The world faces a renewed threat of measles as 22 million babies missed their vaccinations due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, cautioned the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC stated that the reported measles cases declined in 2020 after a resurgence from 2017-2019. However, the agency mentioned that large and disruptive measles outbreaks in 2020 indicate that measles transmission was underreported. The agency said that more than 22 million infants missed their first vaccine dose, which is 3 million higher than in 2019 and the highest annual increase in more than 2 decades.

Dr. Kate O′Brien, director of the Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals at the World Health Organization, said that though the reported cases of measles declined in 2020, this could possibly be the calm before the storm, adding that the risk of outbreaks continues to grow… (CNN, November 10, 2021)