Numerous children are in danger amid the growing measles threat worldwide.
Last yr, a record high of nearly 40 million children missed their measles vaccination amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a joint report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Wednesday.
Based on measles vaccination coverage up to now yr, about 25 million children missed their first measles vaccine dose, and a further 14.7 million missed their second dose.
The numerous decline in vaccinations may very well be a setback to the worldwide mission of achieving and maintaining measles elimination. Data showed that around 40 million kids are actually dangerously prone to measles.
Last yr, roughly 128,000 global deaths because of measles were recorded. Meanwhile, an estimated 9 million people contracted the virus. This yr, public health experts anticipate measles to change into an enormous threat in every region of the world.
The decline in measles vaccination may very well be because of several aspects, including weakened measles surveillance and delays in immunization programs and activities because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The paradox of the pandemic is that while vaccines against COVID-19 were developed in record time and deployed in the biggest vaccination campaign in history, routine immunization programs were badly disrupted, and tens of millions of children missed out on life-saving vaccinations against deadly diseases like measles,” WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a press release.
He continued, “Getting immunization programs back on the right track is totally critical. Behind every statistic on this report is a baby susceptible to a preventable disease.”
Nearly 61 million measles vaccine doses were delayed last yr due to COVID-19-related restrictions in 18 countries. This has contributed to the massive measles threat everyone seems to be facing at present.
Earlier this month, a measles outbreak in Ohio reportedly spread to seven childcare facilities and one school with unvaccinated kids. This forced health authorities to work hard to contain the issue.
Measles, also called rubeola, causes an infection deemed critical and even fatal for young children. The virus had been less and fewer of a problem for years because of the worldwide vaccinations available. However the pandemic disrupted the vaccination programs, making it a threat to today’s unvaccinated children.
“The record number of kids under-immunized and prone to measles shows the profound damage immunization systems have sustained through the COVID-19 pandemic,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky said.