Warning Issued By PAHO For Possible Measles Outbreaks In The Caribbean

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has called on countries in the Americas and the Caribbean to update their response plans to prevent measles from re-establishing endemic transmission.

This warning was issued due to a decrease in childhood vaccination coverage, which increases the possibility of outbreaks of the disease.

According to PAHO’s Technical Advisory Group on vaccines, the risk of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases in the region is at its highest in the last 30 years.

In 2021, over 1.7 million children in 28 countries and territories in the Americas did not receive an initial dose of measles vaccine by their first birthday, according to PAHO estimates.

Regional coverage for the first dose of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR) that year was 85 percent.

Out of the 28 countries and territories in the Americas, only six were able to maintain the recommended vaccination coverage of 95% or more for sustaining the elimination of diseases, while 10 nations had less than 80% coverage, according to the report by PAHO.

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