The long-term trend and the ability of vaccines to save lives are highlighted in the report. Mortality decreased by 83% between 2000 and 2021 (from 761,000 to 128,000 deaths annually), and vaccination is thought to have prevented 56 million measles cases.
Geneva: In a joint report, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States noted that in 2021, many kids failed to receive the measles vaccine. The alarming increase in outbreaks caused by the disturbing drop in coverage highlights the need to increase routine immunisation coverage and work toward longer-term outbreak control. We can accomplish this by stepping up efforts to reach children without vaccinations and communities that routinely lack access to other crucial health services.
The long-term trend and the ability of vaccines to save lives are also highlighted in the report. The number of deaths decreased by 83% between 2000 and 2021 (from 761,000 to 128,000 per year), and vaccination is thought to have prevented 56 million measles deaths.
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, focuses primarily on supporting routine immunisation activities in lower-income countries, working with partners like WHO, UNICEF, and others to support the introduction of a second dose of the measles-containing vaccine (MCV2) into routine programmes. Gavi runs crucial preventive catch-up and follow-up campaigns to reach unimmunized or under-immunized children to meet the required 95 per cent coverage rate. The Alliance recently announced a push to get 85 million children across 22 plus lower-income countries through the first half of 2023 in response to the dire state of global measles coverage.
Gavi has contributed a total of US$ 85 million to the Measles and Rubella Initiative’s (M&RI) Outbreak ResponseFund (ORF) since 2013 to cover more than 60 country applications for outbreak response support.
The significant decline in measles coverage is alarming, said Dr. Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the vaccine alliance. As a coalition, we are working harder to reach communities that routinely lack access to immunizations and other vital services and zero-dose children. This is essential for reducing outbreaks and maintaining robust, resilient health systems in the face of other threats.
Since 2013, Gavi has given the Measles and Rubella Initiative (M&RI) Outbreak ResponseFund (ORF) a total of US$ 85 million to cover more than 60 country applications for outbreak response support.
The significant decline in measles coverage, according to Dr. Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is concerning. As a coalition, we are working harder to reach zero-dose kids and communities that routinely miss out on immunizations and other vital services. Keeping health systems solid and resilient in the face of different threats and reducing outbreaks depend on this.
