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Parents’ fear of coronavirus infections further delays vaccination of their children. Those who should now vaccinate their little ones against serious illnesses postpone the visit to the family doctor. However, doctors point out that measles is an extremely dangerous disease, which since 2016 has killed 64 people.
Vaccines against measles, rubella, polio, and whooping cough should be administered when children turn one and a second time at 4-5 years of age.
UNICEF notes that 17 million children in 37 countries are at risk of not being vaccinated during this period due to the coronavirus pandemic. 24 countries have already decided to postpone vaccines.
The WHO expresses its concern about this problem and conveys that vaccination can be postponed, but only when there is no disease outbreak, which is not the case in Romania.
Doctors say measles is Romania’s “forgotten epidemic”. Since 2016 and so far, there have been 20,000 cases and 64 deaths. Since the beginning of this year, there has been an increase in cases. From April 27 to May 1 alone, 119 new cases were registered. There are outbreaks in Suceava, Iasi, Cluj and Neamt.
The Center for Surveillance and Control of Communicable Diseases points out that vaccination should not be suspended, but that precautions should be taken: triage calls and appointments to avoid crowding the doctor. Parents and children should also wear masks.
Doctors warn that if it is not done in time, the measles vaccine may not work.
