Specialists are pointing to the low vaccination coverage in Venezuela as the reason behind the increase in measles outbreaks in the region. The National Academy of Medicine has called on the Venezuelan Ministry of Health to address the situation following an alert issued by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
The institution emphasized the importance of acquiring vaccines in sufficient quantity and quality to ensure and improve vaccination coverage for children in Venezuela. Measles is a highly contagious and serious disease caused by a virus, but there are safe and effective vaccines available to prevent it.
PAHO estimates in 2021 revealed that more than 1.7 million children in 28 countries and territories in the Americas did not have access to the first dose of the measles vaccine. While regional coverage with the first dose was at 85%, Venezuela only reached 68% for the first dose and 37% for the second dose, putting children in the country at high risk of infection.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also expressed concern about the risk of infections in border areas due to low vaccination coverage. The organization highlighted the importance of vaccination to protect children from measles, as cases of the disease have been on the rise in many countries. Urgent action is needed to prevent further infections and outbreaks.
A report from the WHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in November 2023 noted an increase in measles cases and deaths, emphasizing the need for countries to be prepared to detect outbreaks quickly to prevent the spread of the disease.