Global measles cases spiked by 20% in 2023, reaching over 10.3 million compared to nine million in 2022, according to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Released on Thursday, the “2024 WHO-CDC Measles Report and the State of Measles Vaccination in Lower-income Countries” also showed that while cases increased, measles deaths declined by 8% to 107,500 from 116,800 in 2022.
The report reveals that measles outbreaks affected 57 countries in 2023, highlighting ongoing challenges in vaccine coverage. In African countries, however, resilience efforts boosted vaccine coverage by two percentage points, reaching 70%, despite challenges posed by high birth rates and competing health priorities.
Measles, a highly contagious airborne disease, is particularly dangerous for children and can lead to severe complications. WHO recommends a minimum of 95% vaccine coverage with two doses to prevent outbreaks. Yet, gaps in vaccine access persist worldwide, impacting both low- and middle-income nations.
To address these gaps, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, in partnership with lower-income countries, has ramped up immunization efforts, including a second measles vaccine dose. Preventive campaigns targeting unvaccinated and under-immunized children are critical to controlling outbreaks, especially in fragile and conflict-affected regions.
Gavi’s support also includes funding for the Measles and Rubella Partnership’s Outbreak Response Fund and its “Big Catch Up” initiative. The latter was approved with a $290 million fund in 2024 to help countries close immunity gaps exacerbated by disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gavi aims to reach 100 million children with measles vaccines across 24 countries in 2024, including Nigeria, following 2023 efforts that vaccinated 8.5 million children in lower-income countries. These campaigns are part of a large-scale effort to drive coverage toward the 95% target needed to curb outbreaks.
Derrick Sim, Gavi’s Chief Vaccines Programmes and Markets Officer, emphasized the importance of sustaining immunization efforts: “We must reach high levels of coverage to prevent outbreaks and deaths. Every child deserves to be protected from measles, and Gavi is committed to ensuring equal access to lifesaving vaccines.”
The report also announced that Gavi would support a transition to five-dose vials in 2025, which can improve coverage and reduce vaccine wastage. This push, in collaboration with WHO, UNICEF, CDC, and other partners, represents one of the most significant collective efforts against measles in Gavi’s history, aiming to protect millions of children across lower-income countries.
