Gaps in vaccination lead to spike in measles cases

Gaps in vaccination lead to spike in measles cases

PUNE: Reported measles cases spiked in 2017, as multiple countries experienced severe and protracted outbreaks of the disease. This is according to a report published recently by leading health organisations. Officials of the World Health Organisation (WHO) have urged countries to take up more rigorous vaccination efforts to reduce this devastating, but entirely preventable disease.

The report shows that because of gaps in vaccination coverage, measles outbreaks occurred in all regions globally, while there were an estimated 1,10,000 deaths related to the disease.

According to WHO, measles is a serious and highly contagious disease. It can cause debilitating or fatal complications, including encephalitis, an infection that leads to swelling of the brain, severe diarrhoea and dehydration, pneumonia, ear infections and permanent vision loss. Babies and young children with malnutrition and weak immune systems are particularly vulnerable to complications and death.

Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Deputy Director General for Programmes at WHO, said that the resurgence of measles is of serious concern.

“With extended outbreaks occurring across regions and particularly in countries that had achieved, or were close to achieving measles elimination. Without urgent efforts to increase vaccination coverage and identify populations with unacceptable levels of under or unimmunised children, we risk losing decades of progress in protecting children and communities against this devastating, but entirely preventable disease,” said Swaminathan.

Using updated disease modelling data, the report provides the most comprehensive estimates of measles trends over the last 17 years. It shows that since 2000, over 21 million lives have been saved through measles immunisations. However, reported cases increased by more than 30 per cent worldwide from 2016.

Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, said that the increase in measles cases is deeply concerning, but not surprising.

“Complacency about the disease and the spread of falsehoods about the vaccine in Europe, a collapsing health system in Venezuela and pockets of fragility and low immunisation coverage in Africa are combining to bring about a global resurgence of measles after years of progress. Existing strategies need to change, more effort needs to go into increasing routine immunisation coverage and strengthening health systems. Otherwise, we will continue chasing one outbreak after another,” said Gavi.

The disease is preventable through two doses of a safe and effective vaccine. For several years, however, global coverage with the first dose of measles vaccine has stalled at 85 per cent. This is far short of the 95 per cent needed to prevent outbreaks and leaves many people, in many communities, susceptible to the disease. Second dose coverage stands at 67 per cent.

PMC’S MEASLES-RUBELLA VACCINATION DRIVE
- Speaking about the recent measles-rubella vaccination drive, Dr Ramchandra Hankare, Chief of Health Department of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), said that the current vaccination drive till month end aims at vaccinating children with this new vaccine.
- “Prevention of measles and rubella is possible through this vaccine. Under the Central government’s initiative, the vaccination drive is going well. The aim is to immunise every child between the age group of nine months and 15 years,” said Hankare.

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