Measles surge fuelled by Covid disruption to childhood immunisation programmes
Hundreds of thousands of babies missed out on vaccinations during pandemic, says new study
12 January 2023 - 05:00
SA’s surge in measles cases has been fuelled by the disruption to routine childhood immunisation programmes caused by the coronavirus pandemic, which saw hundreds of thousands of babies miss out on potentially life-saving vaccinations, reveals a new study published in the SA Medical Journal (SAMJ).
The drop in immunisation rates on top of persistently low coverage in some parts of the country has led to a growing pool of susceptible children, say public health experts, contributing to the measles outbreaks declared in Limpopo, the North West, Mpumalanga, Free State and Gauteng...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.