Measles are an imminent threat to children worldwide, WHO claims

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported nearly 40 million children are dangerously susceptible to a growing measles threat that is spreading worldwide.

This week, WHO and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is located in the USA, produced a report outlining measles vaccination coverage has declined since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021, a record-high of almost 40 million children missed their measles vaccine, with 25 million missing their first dose and 14.7 million missing their second, according to the study.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General said, ‘The paradox of the pandemic is that while vaccines against COVID-19 were developed in record time and delayed in the largest vaccination campaign in history, routine immunisation programmes were badly disrupted, and millions of kids missed out on life-saving vaccinations against deadly diseases like measles.

‘Getting immunisation programmes back on track is absolutely critical. Behind every statistic in this report is a child at risk of a preventable disease.’

Against this backdrop, researchers claim the world is behind with trying to achieve herd immunity with the disease. The study outlines 95% of children need to have received both doses of the measles vaccine, but currently only 71% of children have.

During 2021, there was an estimated 9 million cases and 128,000 deaths from measles worldwide, with 22 countries experiencing ‘large and disruptive’ outbreaks.  

Dr Rochelle P. Walensky, CDC Director said, ‘The record number of children under-immunised and susceptible to measles shows the profound damage immunisation systems have sustained during the COVID-19 pandemic.

‘Measles outbreaks illustrate weaknesses in immunisation programs, but public health officials can use outbreak response to identify communities at risk, understand causes of under vaccination, and help deliver locally tailored solutions to ensure vaccinations are available to all.’

The report displays almost 61 million measles vaccine doses were postponed or missed, due to COVID-19 related delays in 18 countries. Thus, WHO and CDC have said delays increase the risk of outbreaks, so the time for public health officials to drive vaccine efforts is now.

Photo by Kristine Wook