Research Press Release
Nature
December 17, 2020
Measles vaccine coverage decreased in more than half of districts in low- and middle-income countries between 2010 and 2019, according to a paper published in
Nature. This decline may have contributed to more than 17 million measles cases and 83,400 deaths in children under 5 years old in 2017.
The safe, highly effective measles vaccine has been recommended globally since 1974, yet in 2017 there were a record number of measles cases and deaths in children. Although high-income locations, such as the United States and Europe, have recently begun to experience extended measles outbreaks, over 99% of cases occurred in low- and middle-income countries. Globally comparable, annual, local estimates of routine first-dose measles-containing vaccine coverage are critical for understanding geographically precise immunity patterns, progress toward Global Vaccine Action Plan targets, and high-risk areas amidst COVID-19-related disruption of v