COVID-19 Affects Measles Progress

COVID-19 Affects Measles Progress
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Last week, the United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned that the COVID-19 epidemic has jeopardized worldwide efforts against the measles virus. While measles rates have decreased in recent years, a new research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) claims that progress toward eliminating the disease is slowing and that the danger of outbreaks is increasing.

According to the CDC, more than 22 million newborns skipped their first dose of the measles vaccination last year, the highest number in two decades.

Only 70% of kids got their second shot of immunisation, and due to the pandemic, 24 measles vaccination programs in 23 nations were delayed.

Whereas the number of recorded measles cases fell by more than 80% in 2020, measles monitoring declined. According to the CDC, the volume of specimens received for laboratory testing in 2020 was the smallest in almost a decade. Last year, significant measles outbreaks happened in 26 countries, accounting for 84% of all confirmed occurrences.

New @CDCMMWR reports that over 22 million children missed their first dose of measles vaccine in 2020, 3 million more than the previous year. We must increase vaccine coverage and prevent measles outbreaks,” reads the tweet.

According to CDC statistics as of Nov. 10, 2021, four jurisdictions in the United States have reported a total of 47 measles cases.

To avoid future fatalities and outbreaks, the agency advised countries and international health agencies to emphasize locating and vaccination kids against measles.

“While reported measles cases dropped in 2020, evidence suggests we are likely seeing the calm before the storm as the risk of outbreaks continues to grow around the world. It’s critical that countries vaccinate as quickly as possible against COVID-19, but this requires new resources so that it does not come at the cost of essential immunization programs. Routine immunization must be protected and strengthened; otherwise, we risk trading one deadly disease for another.” declared Kate O’Brien from WHO.

 


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Anna is an avid blogger with an educational background in medicine and mental health. She is a generalist with many other interests including nutrition, women's health, astronomy and photography. In her free time from work and writing, Anna enjoys nature walks, reading, and listening to jazz and classical music.

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