Global S&T Development Trend Analysis Platform of Resources and Environment
| DOI | 10.1126/science.abc8637 |
| COVID-19 policies: Remember measles | |
| Debarati Guha-Sapir; Maria Moitinho de Almeida; Mory Keita; Gregg Greenough; Eran Bendavid | |
| 2020-07-17 | |
| 发表期刊 | Science
 |
| 出版年 | 2020 |
| 英文摘要 | Nearly 120 million children in 37 countries are at risk of missing their measlescontaining vaccine (MCV) shots this year, as preventive and public health campaigns take a back seat to policies put in place to contain coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ([ 1 ][1]). In March, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued guidelines indicating that mass vaccination campaigns should be put on hold to maintain physical distancing and minimize COVID-19 transmission ([ 2 ][2]). The disruption of immunization services, even for short periods, will lead to more susceptible individuals, more communities with less than the 95% MCV coverage needed for herd immunity, and therefore more measles outbreaks globally. A mere 15% decrease in routine measles vaccinations—a plausible result of lockdowns and disruption of health services—could raise the burden of childhood deaths by nearly a quarter of a million in poorer countries ([ 3 ][3]). Solutions for COVID-19, especially among the global poor, cannot include forgoing vaccinations.
Suspending mass vaccination campaigns is particularly pernicious in countries embroiled in conflict. Malnutrition among children and mothers in these regions is all too common—and increases mortality for those also infected by measles ([ 4 ][4]). In the conflict-affected regions of Ituri and North Kivu in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) alone, COVID-19 precautions are expected to delay measles vaccinations for nearly a million children ([ 1 ][1]).
COVID-19 mortality has so far been low in most poorer countries and trivial compared with the immediate risk of mortality due to measles. In the DRC, for example, the total number of deaths due to COVID-19 as of June was 37 ([ 5 ][5]), whereas the 2019 measles outbreak in the conflict region of eastern DRC killed more than 6000 people in a matter of months, mostly children ([ 6 ][6]). In some poor countries, more than 40% of the population is younger than 14 years old ([ 7 ][7]). This demographic group is the least affected by COVID-19 (in terms of symptoms, mortality, and transmission) ([ 8 ][8]) but at serious risk of measles ([ 9 ][9]). In addition, because many people in these countries live in cramped housing with unavoidable crowding, policies to minimize COVID-19 at the expense of measles prevention may not even be effective ([ 10 ][10]).
Postponement of measles campaigns prioritizes panic-driven policies for controlling COVID-19 without consideration of these policies' costs. If children are not immunized within the correct age window, they forgo benefits of lifelong immunity ([ 11 ][11]). Whole cohorts of children may be left unprotected. We must balance priorities of containing COVID-19 with efforts to control other high-transmission disease threats in poor countries, especially those affected by conflict.
1. [↵][12]The Measles & Rubella Initiative, “More than 117 million children at risk of missing out on measles vaccine, as COVID-19 surges” (World Health Organization, Geneva, 2020).
2. [↵][13]WHO, “Guiding principles for immunization activities during the COVID-19 pandemic: Interim guidance” (2020); |
| 领域 | 气候变化 ; 资源环境 |
| URL | 查看原文 |
| 引用统计 | |
| 文献类型 | 期刊论文 |
| 条目标识符 | http://119.78.100.173/C666/handle/2XK7JSWQ/284329 |
| 专题 | 气候变化 资源环境科学 |
| 推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714 | Debarati Guha-Sapir,Maria Moitinho de Almeida,Mory Keita,et al. COVID-19 policies: Remember measles[J]. Science,2020. |
| APA | Debarati Guha-Sapir,Maria Moitinho de Almeida,Mory Keita,Gregg Greenough,&Eran Bendavid.(2020).COVID-19 policies: Remember measles.Science. |
| MLA | Debarati Guha-Sapir,et al."COVID-19 policies: Remember measles".Science (2020). |
| 条目包含的文件 | 条目无相关文件。 | |||||
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