Global measles vaccinations are nearly back to pre-pandemic levels

A recent report from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that the global vaccination rates for measles in children, which saw a decline during the Covid-19 pandemic, are now almost back to pre-pandemic levels. However, despite this positive development, the number of measles cases has exceeded pre-pandemic levels in 2024, according to the WHO’s annual measles assessment published in the Weekly Epidemiological Record.

The report, which covers the previous year, does not address the current measles outbreaks in the United States and Canada. These outbreaks have led to Canada losing its measles-free status and raised concerns about the United States’ measles elimination status. Kate O’Brien, the head of WHO’s Department of Immunization, Vaccines, and Biologicals, highlighted the significant impact of measles vaccination efforts worldwide. She stated that these efforts have prevented nearly 59 million deaths from measles between 2000 and 2024.

During a recent news conference, O’Brien emphasized the importance of measles vaccination as a crucial public health achievement that has saved more lives than any other childhood immunization in the past five decades. She described measles outbreaks as an early warning system for the overall status of immunization programs. Even small declines in vaccination rates can lead to increased infections due to the high contagiousness of measles.

The report estimates that there were approximately 11 million measles cases in 2024, representing an 8% increase from 2019. Surprisingly, despite the rise in cases, the number of deaths decreased by 11% compared to 2019, with an estimated 95,000 deaths in 2024. This discrepancy in numbers is attributed to the distribution of outbreaks, with higher death rates in low-income countries but more cases occurring in middle-income countries.

In 2024, around 84% of children globally had received at least one dose of the measles vaccine. However, to achieve optimal protection against measles transmission, two doses of the vaccine are recommended. The report revealed that only 76% of children had received two doses of the measles vaccine in 2024.

Overall, the WHO report underscores the importance of maintaining high vaccination rates to prevent measles outbreaks and protect vulnerable populations. It serves as a reminder of the critical role that vaccination plays in public health and emphasizes the need for continued efforts to ensure widespread immunization coverage worldwide.