Amidst a global health crisis, measles cases in 2022 witnessed an 18% surge, with a staggering 43% increase in deaths compared to the previous year. A collaborative report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) paints a grim picture, tallying 9 million cases and 136,000 deaths, predominantly affecting children.
The surge in outbreaks reached 37 countries in 2022, a stark rise from 22 in 2021, with the WHO African Region facing the brunt. This unsettling trend underscores the critical need for targeted interventions to curb the relentless spread of this preventable disease.
CONSEQUENCES OF DECLINING VACCINATION
John Vertefeuille, director of CDC’s Global Immunization Division, voices concern over the predictable consequences of declining vaccination rates in recent years. Emphasizing the global risk posed by measles cases in any corner of the world, urgent action is deemed imperative.
Despite a slight uptick in global vaccination coverage, 33 million children missed receiving a measles vaccine dose in 2022. Alarming figures persist: global coverage for the first and second doses remains below the recommended threshold of 95%, standing at 83% and 74%, respectively.
LOW INCOME COUNTRIES
Low-income countries, already bearing the highest risk of measles-related deaths, show no recovery from pandemic-induced setbacks, maintaining alarmingly low vaccination rates at 66%. Over half of the 22 million children missing their first measles vaccine dose hail from ten countries, signaling an urgent need for targeted interventions and support.
Kate O’Brien, WHO Director for Immunization, Vaccine and Biologicals, stresses the urgency, labeling the lack of recovery in vaccine coverage in low-income nations post-pandemic as a call to action. Measles, known as the “inequity virus,” preys on the unprotected, emphasizing the universal right of every child to the lifesaving measles vaccine, irrespective of geographical location.
Both the CDC and WHO advocate for prioritizing the identification and vaccination of all children against measles and other preventable diseases. They urge global stakeholders to support nations in safeguarding their most vulnerable communities. Additionally, robust investments in surveillance systems and outbreak response capabilities at all levels are crucial in swiftly detecting and containing outbreaks to prevent further escalation.
