"The measles vaccine is our best protection against the virus, and we must continue to invest in efforts to increase access." "Measles vaccine has saved more lives than any other vaccine in the past 50 years," WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in the statement. Because of global gaps in vaccination coverage, 57 countries experienced measles outbreaks in 2023, the agencies noted, representing a nearly 60% increase from 36 countries in 2022. The drop in vaccination coverage has had consequences: An estimated 107,500 people worldwide, mostly children under the age of 5, died from measles in 2023. Vaccination coverage for measles fell globally during the pandemic, reaching the lowest levels seen since 2008.

Source: Daily Sun November 15, 2024 19:52 UTC