‘It is tragic and unacceptable that 49 children and adults in EU countries have died from complications of measles infection in the past two years, while safe and effective vaccines are readily available,’ says Dr Andrea Ammon, Director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
Most cases – 87% – were among people who were not vaccinated, despite the widespread availability of the MMR vaccines, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella.
‘Vaccination with at least two doses of MMR vaccine remains the most effective measure to prevent the further spread of measles,’ Dr Ammon says, noting the Europe is committed to eliminating the disease.
Data from the ECDC shows that since 1 January 2017, the countries in Europe with the highest number of measles cases are:
- Romania: 8,274
- Italy: 4,885
- Germany: 919
- Greece 968
- France: 77
- Sweden: 26
Read how Italy has embraced life-course immunisation and introduced mandatory vaccination
Find out how Romania is responding to the measles crisis
Romania saw a sharp increase in cases from October 2016, and the trend has continued throughout 2017; in Italy, the increasing trend started in January 2017, while in Germany it began in February 2017; Greece has seen a measles outbreak starting in the second half of 2017, with 250 cases, including one death, reported in November 2017. This was an increase from 167 cases, including one death, in October and 127 cases in September.
Measles increasingly affects all age groups across Europe and in 2017, 44% of measles cases with known age were aged 15 years or older.
The latest available figures on vaccination coverage collected by WHO (2016) show that the vaccination coverage for the second dose of measles was below 95% in 20 of 27 EU/EEA countries reporting second dose coverage data.
In order to achieve the measles elimination goal, the vaccination coverage rates for children targeted by routine vaccination programmes should increase in a number of countries, as the vaccination coverage of the second dose must be at least 95% to interrupt measles circulation and achieve herd immunity. This is particularly important to protect children below one year of age, who are particularly vulnerable to complications of measles but are too young to have received the first dose of vaccine.
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February 1st, 2018
[…] EUROPE’S 49 MEASLES DEATHS: ‘TRAGIC AND UNACCEPTABLE’ […]
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September 14th, 2018
[…] 31, 2018: Vaccines Today reported that Greece is the latest European country to face a major measles outbreak with Romania, […]
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December 31st, 2018
[…] And that doesn’t include the conspiracy theories that act as undercurrents to our everyday lives, regardless of our political affiliation or religious beliefs — like the anti-vaccination movement, led by conspiracy theorists who wrongly believe that vaccines cause health problems. In their wake have come measles outbreaks in tight-knit religious groups and well-to-do, left-leaning neighborhoods alike, not to mention waves of chickenpox occurrences in private schools, all a result of anti-vaccine conspiracy theories with bipartisan support and, sometimes, deadly consequences. […]
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December 31st, 2018
[…] And that doesn’t include the conspiracy theories that act as undercurrents to our everyday lives, regardless of our political affiliation or religious beliefs — like the anti-vaccination movement, led by conspiracy theorists who wrongly believe that vaccines cause health problems. In their wake have come measles outbreaks in tight-knit religious groups and well-to-do, left-leaning neighborhoods alike, not to mention waves of chickenpox occurrences in private schools, all a result of anti-vaccine conspiracy theories with bipartisan support and, sometimes, deadly consequences. […]
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December 31st, 2018
[…] And that doesn’t include the conspiracy theories that act as undercurrents to our everyday lives, regardless of our political affiliation or religious beliefs — like the anti-vaccination movement, led by conspiracy theorists who wrongly believe that vaccines cause health problems. In their wake have come measles outbreaks in tight-knit religious groups and well-to-do, left-leaning neighborhoods alike, not to mention waves of chickenpox occurrences in private schools, all a result of anti-vaccine conspiracy theories with bipartisan support and, sometimes, deadly consequences. […]
Pingback
December 31st, 2018
[…] And that doesn’t include the conspiracy theories that act as undercurrents to our everyday lives, regardless of our political affiliation or religious beliefs — like the anti-vaccination movement, led by conspiracy theorists who wrongly believe that vaccines cause health problems. In their wake have come measles outbreaks in tight-knit religious groups and well-to-do, left-leaning neighborhoods alike, not to mention waves of chickenpox occurrences in private schools, all a result of anti-vaccine conspiracy theories with bipartisan support and, sometimes, deadly consequences. […]
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January 21st, 2019
[…] And that doesn’t include the conspiracy theories that act as undercurrents to our everyday lives, regardless of our political affiliation or religious beliefs — like the anti-vaccination movement, led by conspiracy theorists who wrongly believe that vaccines cause health problems. In their wake have come measles outbreaks in tight-knit religious groups and well-to-do, left-leaning neighborhoods alike, not to mention waves of chickenpox occurrences in private schools, all a result of anti-vaccine conspiracy theories with bipartisan support and, sometimes, deadly consequences. […]
Ron S
January 11th, 2020
I am looking over the data to see if vaccines increase life. I comare the life expected with vaccine rates and laws. So far no correlation. Which means vaccines are a waist of time. I look at real data not therioes.
Gary Finnegan
January 13th, 2020
Dear Ron, with the greatest respect, there is a wealth of data showing that vaccination reduces illness and mortality.
This WHO page links to various papers but you should be easily able to find more information on this.
https://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/86/2/07-040089/en/