Measles is an imminent global threat, according to a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO). And for good reason, vaccination coverage once morest measles has continued to decline since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“In 2021, a record number of children (nearly 40 million) missed a dose of measles vaccine: 25 million children missed their first dose and an additional 14.7 million children the second, according to a joint publication from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Cdc). This is a significant setback that is reversing the progress made in sustainably eliminating measles globally and leaving millions of children susceptible to infection. By 2021, it is estimated that globally there had been 9 million cases of measles and 128,000 deaths were attributable to the disease. Twenty-two countries have experienced large-scale outbreaks that have caused disruption. Setbacks in immunization coverage, weakened measles surveillance, continued interruptions and delays in immunization activities due to Covid-19, and large outbreaks that persist into 2022 make measles an imminent threat everywhere in the world“, specifies the press release of the WHO. According to the Organization, the situation is serious given that measles is one of the most contagious human viruses, but also an almost entirely vaccine-preventable disease. “Coverage of 95% or more with both doses of measles-containing vaccine is needed to build herd immunity to protect communities and achieve sustained measles elimination. However, globally, we are far from these levels: only 81% of children received their first dose and only 71% of them received the second. These are the lowest global coverage rates recorded since 2008 for the first dose of measles vaccine (although there are differences from one country to another)“ informs the WHO. For WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, it is absolutely essential to get immunization programs back on track. “This pandemic harbors a paradox: while COVID-19 vaccines were developed in record time before being rolled out in the largest immunization campaign in history, routine immunization programs were severely disrupted and millions of children missed life-saving vaccinations once morest deadly diseases like measles,” he said.
Urgency for global action…
“Wherever it occurs, measles is a global threat: the virus can spread rapidly to many communities across international borders. No WHO region has succeeded in eliminating measles and sustaining this achievement. Since 2016, 10 countries that had previously eliminated measles have experienced outbreaks and reestablishment of transmission…In 2021, nearly 61 million doses of measles vaccine were postponed, or might not be delivered, due to delays related to COVID-19 in vaccination campaigns in 18 countries. These delays increase the risk of measles outbreaks, so now is the time for public health officials to accelerate vaccination efforts and strengthen surveillance. CDC and WHO urge all partners at the global, regional, national, and local levels to engage in coordinated and concerted action that prioritizes efforts to find and vaccinate all unprotected children, including those who have been missed over the past two years. Measles outbreaks illustrate weaknesses in immunization programs and other essential health services. To mitigate the risk of disease outbreaks, countries and global stakeholders need to invest in robust surveillance systems. As part of the 2030 Agenda for Immunization Global Immunization Strategy, global immunization partners remain committed to supporting investments in strengthening surveillance as a means to rapidly detect disease outbreaks, urgently respond and vaccinate all children who are not yet protected once morest vaccine-preventable diseases“ warns WHO in the said press release.
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