WHO Sounds Alarm Over Low Measles Immunisation in Pacific
The World Health Organisation says they are currently working with local and international consultants to promote MMR vaccines in the Pacific. Measles, mumps and rubella vaccination coverage has steadily declined since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Pacific. According to a World Health Organisation and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, measles is now an imminent threat worldwide and nearly 40 million children are dangerously susceptible.
Dr Hossan the WHO Division of Pacific Technical support immunisation works to reverse this poor effort.
“Human resource they are usually diverted for the COVID-19 reasponse since our immunation
staff are also very busy, conducting the COVID-19 vaccination response. I think some of the countries closed clinics some days to reduce clinical hours.”
Poor vaccination performance
He said they have identified the poor vaccination performing countries and have boosted their immunisation programme in a number of ways.
“Low performing countries are basically in the catch up vaccination, in particular areas that are of low coverage inside the country or even nation wide catch up vaccination.
We are also making sure that we have including local consultants, international consultants so that they can help the government to conduct these activities.”
In 2021, a record high of nearly 40 million children missed a measles vaccine dose.
This decline is a significant setback in global progress towards achieving and maintaining measles elimination and leaves millions of children susceptible to infection. In 2021, there were an estimated 9 million cases and 128 000 deaths from measles worldwide.
The situation is grave: measles is one of the most contagious human viruses but is almost entirely preventable through vaccination. Coverage of 95% or greater of 2 doses of measles-containing vaccine is needed to create herd immunity in order to protect communities and achieve and maintain measles elimination.