'India has 2nd highest number of children missing 1st measles vaccine dose'

India has the second highest number of children who missed their first measles vaccine dose in 2016, a global report revealed on Tuesday.

Out of 20.8 million children, Nigeria tops the list with 3.3 million children, India with 2.9 million children, followed by Pakistan with 2 million children, Indonesia with 1.2 million children, Ethiopia with 0.9 million children and Democratic Republic of Congo with 0.7 million children who missed their first measles vaccine dose in 2016.

The data is based on this week's WHO's "Weekly Epidemiological Report" and CDC's "Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report".

"Too many children are still missing out on lifesaving vaccines. To reach these children and set ourselves on a realistic road to measles elimination we need to dramatically improve routine immunization backed by strong health systems," said Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, one of the world's largest supporters of measles immunization programmes.

According to the report, since measles is a highly contagious viral disease, large outbreaks continue to occur in these and other countries in Europe and North America, putting children at risk of severe health complications such as pneumonia, diarrhoea, encephalitis, blindness and death.

Agencies noted that progress in reaching measles elimination could be reversed when polio-funded resources supporting routine immunization services, measles and rubella vaccination campaigns, and surveillance, diminish and disappear following polio eradication.

"Countries with the greatest number of measles deaths rely most heavily on polio-funded resources and are at highest risk of reversing progress after polio eradication is achieved," said the report.

The report also states that an estimated 90,000 people died from measles in 2016. The figure was, however, 84 per cent, drop from 550, 000 deaths in 2000.

--IANS

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