2024-04-22 11:07:12
(ANSA) – ROME, APRIL 22 – Between March 2023 and February 2024, 5,770 cases of measles and at least 5 deaths due to the infectious disease were recorded in Europe. During the same period, there was a 10-fold increase in whooping cough cases compared to the previous two years. These are the preliminary data released this morning by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) on the occasion of European Immunization Week.
“It is disheartening to see that, despite decades of well-documented progress in vaccine safety and efficacy, EU and EEA countries and globally are still dealing with outbreaks of several vaccine-preventable diseases,” he said in a statement. the director of the ECDC Andrea Ammon. “Vaccines have protected many generations and we should ensure they continue to do so.”
The European agency recalled that those at greatest risk, both for measles and whooping cough, are children younger than one year who are still too young to be completely protected by the vaccine. In the case of measles, the role of herd immunity is essential. “Measles spreads very easily, therefore, a high vaccination coverage of at least 95% of the population vaccinated with two doses is essential to interrupt transmission”, explains the ECDC. In the case of whooping cough, “to best protect them, it is essential to be sure that all recommended vaccines against whooping cough are administered on time. Vaccination during pregnancy can also protect young children”, concludes the European agency. (HANDLE).
2024-04-22 11:07:12