[LINK] "Measles Still Kills Thousands of Children Each Year"

[rfmcdonald]

The Inter Press Service's Lyndal Williams notes that measles is still a killer.

Measles remains one of the leading causes of death for young children worldwide, even though a safe vaccine is available.

Most of the 145,700 people who died from measles in 2013 were children under the age of five, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

However, immunisation has also saved many children from death and serious illness. The WHO estimates that 15.6 million deaths were prevented between 2000 and 2013, because of increased access to the measles vaccination.

Jos Vandelaer, prinicipal advisor on immunisations for UNICEF, the United Nations children’s agency, told IPS that the children most at risk of missing out on vaccinations are among the world’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged, including children from minority backgrounds and displaced or refugee children in temporary accommodation.

“These are the very same kids who also don’t have access to health care, to clean water, to hygiene, to school, and so on,” he said.

“So these kids face a double whammy, in that if they don’t get immunised and they fall sick their chance of getting treatment is also lower than an average kid.”