Vaccination Decreases May Forecast Measles Outbreaks

'The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted both in-person learning and routine well-child visits for many children over the last year,' commented Dr. Nancy Messonnier, Senior Official, CDC National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, in a media statement issued on April 9, 2021.

'As a result, too many children have fallen behind on receiving recommended vaccines.'

'We all want our kids to be back in school safely, and that means getting caught up on vaccines that were missed over the last year.'

According to the CDC’s public sector vaccine ordering data, there is a 14% decrease in 2020-2021 orders compared to 2019.

The most obvious decrease is the measles vaccine ordering is down by more than 20%.

Measles outbreaks occur when people who are not protected from the virus are infected and spread the disease to unvaccinated or under-vaccinated populations. According to the CDC, around 90 percent of people who are not protected will become infected following exposure to the measles virus.

'Kids need to get caught up now so that they are protected as they go back to in-person learning. Catch-up vaccination will require efforts from healthcare systems, health care providers, schools, state and local governments, and families,' concluded Dr. Messonnier.

The CDC says 'vaccination providers should adhere to the standards for child and adolescent vaccination practices. These standards are published by the National Vaccine Advisory Committee and define appropriate vaccination practices for both public and private sectors for 2021.

In the USA, the M-M-R-II vaccine is commonly available. It is indicated for simultaneous vaccination against measles, mumps, and rubella. This vaccine is usually given to people 1-year-old or older.

Globally, measles cases surged in 2019, reaching the highest level in 23 years, reported the World Health Organization (WHO). Measles fatalities climbed nearly 50 percent since 2016, claiming an estimated 207,500 lives in 2019 alone, reported the WHO on November 12, 2020.

“We know how to prevent measles outbreaks and deaths,” stated Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, in a related press statement. “These data send a clear message that we are failing to protect children from measles in every region of the world.”

“We must collectively work to support countries and engage communities to reach everyone, everywhere with measles vaccine, and stop this deadly virus.”