Regence BlueShield’s Post

Moving in the wrong direction. According to a Reuters article published on February 20, 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that over half of the world's population is at high risk of contracting measles. The WHO stated that this risk is due to disruptions in routine immunization programs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. They emphasized the importance of vaccination campaigns to prevent outbreaks and highlighted the need for global efforts to address this threat. https://lnkd.in/egDzC2ay #healthcare #vaccination #measles #worldhealthorganization

Measles : half of the world at risk for not being vaccinated, and the other half for listening to a series of falsehood on measles ranging from Physicians for Informed Consent to Florida's Lapado. When one think that measles was almost eradicated in most of both North America and Europe, it appears clear that disease amnesia led to vaccination amnesia, with not enough children being fully vaccinated to prevent the crisis we are now seeing. Cases last year were already up 79% to over 300,000, according to WHO data, - thought to represent just a fraction of the total. Outbreaks have been reported in all WHO regions with the exception of the Americas until recently where such have emerged throughout the US and Canada. https://lnkd.in/e8wrSmBv

It's both heartbreaking and infuriating that in this age of evidence-based medicine, a disease like measles which had been virtually eradicated in Canada, needlessly claimed an unvaccinated young child's life. Antivax, conspiracy-theory sentiments are still unfortunately held by a growing number well-meaning parents who think they know more than the medical professionals recommending vaccination against the potentially deadly disease. The trend is troubling with 22 new measles cases in Ontario alone this year. Most cases are related to travel and are in people born after 1970, including 13 children. #measles #canada #vaccinations #ontario #vaccinefatigue

Vast majority of measles cases (96%) reported since 2020 were brought into the U.S. by travelers or people from other countries. Twenty measles outbreaks have occurred in the US since 2020. Seven of those occurred in the first quarter of 2024. Four occurred in 2023. Most cases in 2024 occurred in individuals less than 20 years of age who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown. The report emphasized that the risk for widespread measles transmission in the U.S. remains low because of high population immunity. Given that a majority of cases were imported, they recommended vaccination before international travel, in addition to identifying "close-knit and undervaccinated" communities and rapidly investigating suspected measles cases. https://lnkd.in/egFHcVvx

In this piece I am quoted about rising measles case numbers and deaths and how they’re the direct consequence of falling measles vaccination rates (because of pandemic disruptions and vaccine hesistancy) https://lnkd.in/e_PvT2dX

Attention Professionals: The resurgence of measles poses a significant public health challenge. Recent outbreaks in the UK and US, coupled with vaccine hesitancy and increased travel, highlight the need for robust vaccination programs. As we approach international events like the Paris Olympics, ensuring widespread immunization is paramount. Let's prioritize health and safety by promoting and facilitating access to the measles vaccine. #PublicHealth #MeaslesOutbreak #VaccinationAwareness

#Measles is spreading once again. Over 1.8 million children in the European Region missed out on their measles #vaccines between 2020 and 2022. Although the backsliding in vaccination coverage has been largely attributed to the #Covid19 pandemic, the comeback of the virus has also unmasked some of the pre-existing fragilities within our health systems. It’s time to act #NOW. We have to develop innovative, community-centred approaches to reach those under- and unvaccinated to stop the #spread of a potentially deadly virus. Also, we should invest efforts into strengthening health systems by rendering them more resilient against future #outbreaks. #VaccinesWork Read more 💡👉 https://lnkd.in/dEyVsSvA

#NatureBites - The UK is currently facing a measles outbreak after eliminating the disease in 2017. Declining vaccination rates due to the pandemic and anti-vaccine messaging are key drivers of the spread of this highly contagious respiratory virus. Other countries also see concerning rises, with particularly Europe facing an alarming situation with a 45-fold increase in measles cases compared to 2022. https://lnkd.in/eXYHp6G4

🩺🌍 Tackling Measles: A Global Call to Action 🌐 Measles, a highly contagious viral disease, still claims young lives globally despite a proven vaccine. Vaccination cut global measles deaths by 73% from 2000-2018, yet it persists in many developing countries, causing over 140,000 deaths in 2018. Shockingly, 95% of these deaths occur in nations with low per capita incomes and weak health infrastructures. Member States across all WHO Regions are committed to measles elimination goals, with WHO leading coordination efforts for immunization and surveillance activities. Measles spreads via droplets and initial symptoms include fever, runny nose, and a characteristic rash. Severe cases affect malnourished children, particularly those lacking vitamin A or with weakened immune systems. Routine measles vaccination, coupled with mass campaigns in countries with low coverage, is crucial for reducing global deaths. The safe, effective, and inexpensive measles vaccine, in use since the 1960s, is recommended by WHO for all susceptible individuals. Let's make two doses of measles vaccine the standard in national immunization programs, ensuring a healthier future for all! 💉👶 #MeaslesElimination #VaccinesSaveLives #GlobalHealth #WHO #HealthUnits #MedicalBilling #RCM

#InTheNews: U.S. News & World Report spoke with head of infectious diseases, Shishi L. about the winter COVID-19 wave and vaccination rates. Luo says Helix’s data shows the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines are the greatest among older populations and that future vaccine campaigns might be more targeted to that age group. “What seems like a likely scenario is that booster campaigns would primarily focus on older adults … and then for the rest of the population, it may not be as high a priority to get boosted every year,” Luo says. Read: https://bit.ly/492KvhU