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Mahesh

26/11/23 12:21 PM IST

Is India lagging in measles vaccination?

In News
  • A new report from the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said measles cases in 2022 have increased by 18%, and deaths by 43% globally, compared to 2021.
Initiatives by Govt.
  • The Health Ministry maintains that just over 21,000 Indian children did not get the shot and said that the WHO data is based on an estimated number, reported under the WHO UNICEF Estimates National Immunization Coverage (WUENIC) 2022 report, which covers the time period from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022.
  • A total of 2,63,63,270 children out of the eligible 2,63,84,580 children received their first dose of measles vaccine in FY 2022-23, according to the Health Ministry.
  • It added that 21,310 children missed their first dose in 2022-23; and that initiatives have been undertaken by the Centre in coordination with the States to ensure that all children receive all missed/due doses of the measles vaccine.
  • The catch-up vaccination age for the administration of Measles Containing Vaccine (MCV) has been increased from 15months/2 years to 5 years.
Measles
  • Measles is a contagious disease caused by a virus, which spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
  • Measles starts with a cough, runny nose, red eyes, and fever. Then a rash of tiny, red spots break out. It starts at the head and spreads to the rest of the body.
  • According to the WHO, measles vaccination averted 56 million deaths between 2000 and 2021.
  • “Even though a safe and cost-effective vaccine is available, in 2021, there were an estimated 1,28,000 measles deaths globally, mostly among unvaccinated or under vaccinated children under the age of five.
  • Additionally in 2022, about 83% of the world’s children received one dose of measles vaccine by their first birthday through routine health services — the lowest since 2008.
Prevention
  • Measles can be prevented with the MMR vaccine.
  • The vaccine protects against three diseases — measles, mumps and rubella.
  • Two doses of MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles; one dose is about 93% effective.
  • This viral disease affecting mainly children causes significant morbidity and mortality.
  • Three doses are recommended at 9 months, 15 months and one dose through 4 to 6 years.
Impact of COVID-19
  • The WHO notes that the pandemic has led to setbacks in surveillance and immunisation efforts across the globe leaving millions of children vulnerable to diseases like measles.
  • No country is exempt from measles, and areas with low immunisation encourage the virus to circulate, increasing the likelihood of outbreaks and putting all unvaccinated children at risk.
  • In India, as recently as late last year, Maharashtra and Kerala saw a spike in cases of measles.
  • While Maharashtra recorded over 800 cases and over 10 deaths linked to the disease, Kerala’s Malappuram district reported 160 cases of measles.
  • The spread caused enough alarm to prompt the Indian Academy of Paediatricians to step in and appeal for vaccination.
  • In 2008, there were nearly 1,400 lab-confirmed cases of measles in England and Wales.
  • According to data, in 2013–14, there were almost 10,000 cases in 30 European countries with most cases occurring in unvaccinated individuals and over 90% of cases occurred in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, and the U.K.
  • In the U.S., a resurgence of measles occurred during 2019, which has been generally tied to parents choosing not to have their children vaccinated as most of the reported cases have occurred in people 19 years old or younger.
Spread of Disease
  • Medical literature explains that it is possible to get measles even if vaccinated, but it is unlikely.
  • It notes that a teenager or adult who isn’t sure whether he or she has been vaccinated against measles, can take a blood test which can confirm if the person has immunity from a previous vaccine.
  • If the test shows the person does not have immunity, doctors are likely to recommend two doses of the vaccine at least four weeks apart. Adults who don’t have immunity are advised to get at least one dose of the MMR vaccine.
Source- The Hindu

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