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TL;DR
This correspondence argues that the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global childhood vaccination programs, leading to a historical number of missed measles doses and a subsequent rise in measles outbreaks and deaths worldwide.
Annals of Medicine and Surgery · 5 authors, 6 centres
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This correspondence argues that the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global childhood vaccination programs, leading to a historical number of missed measles doses and a subsequent rise in measles outbreaks and deaths worldwide.
This correspondence analyzes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global measles vaccination. The authors describe how pandemic-related disruptions, including reduced healthcare access, vaccine hesitancy, and lockdowns, contributed to a significant number of children missing measles vaccine doses, citing WHO data of 40 million missed doses in a year. This lapse is linked to increased measles cases, deaths, and outbreaks in multiple regions. The piece outlines consequences of measles and proposes future strategies like catch-up campaigns, age adjustments for vaccination, and community engagement. The implications are that sustained public health efforts are needed to recover immunization coverage and prevent further outbreaks.