22m children skip first dose of measles vaccine in Pakistan. A report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has disclosed that 22 million children in low and middle-income countries, including Pakistan, missed their crucial first measles vaccine dose last year.
The repercussions have been dire, with measles cases spiking by 18% and deaths surging by 43% in 2022 compared to the previous year.
Shockingly, the tally now stands at 9 million cases and 136,000 deaths, predominantly among children.
The global scenario is equally alarming, as 37 countries experienced significant measles outbreaks in 2022, marking a substantial increase from the 22 countries affected in 2021.
The WHO Region for Africa bore the brunt with 28 countries grappling with outbreaks, along with six in the Eastern Mediterranean, two in South-East Asia, and one in the European Region.
John Vertefeuille, director of CDC’s Global Immunization Division, expressed concern, stating, “The increase in measles outbreaks and deaths is staggering, but unfortunately, not unexpected given the declining vaccination rates we’ve seen in the past few years.”
Measles, a preventable disease with a two-dose vaccine regimen, saw a disheartening statistic of 33 million children missing their measles vaccine dose in 2022. Of these, nearly 22 million missed the first dose, and 11 million missed the crucial second dose.
The global vaccine coverage rates for the first and second doses stand at 83% and 74%, respectively, falling significantly short of the recommended 95% coverage required to shield communities from outbreaks.
Low-income countries, where the risk of death from measles is most acute, continue to grapple with the lowest vaccination rates at a mere 66%.
The report identifies ten countries, including Angola, Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Nigeria, Pakistan, and the Philippines, as having half of the children missing their first dose.
Kate O’Brien, WHO Director for Immunization, Vaccine, and Biologicals, expressed concern over the lack of recovery in measles vaccine coverage in low-income countries post-pandemic, stating, “Measles is the disease that attacks those who aren’t protected.”
In response to the alarming findings, the CDC and WHO are urgently calling for targeted efforts to prevent measles outbreaks and deaths.
The plea extends to countries to ensure the vaccination of all children against measles and other preventable diseases. Global stakeholders are encouraged to support nations in vaccinating their most vulnerable communities.
As 22m children skip first dose of measles vaccine in Pakistan, the report serves as a stark reminder of the critical need for collaborative global action to bridge vaccination gaps and thwart the resurgence of preventable diseases, particularly in regions and populations with lower vaccination rates.
