Measles cases have shown a significant decline this year due to insufficient vaccination rates - Decline in Measles Cases Despite Low Vaccination Rates This Year
In Bavaria, the second dose of the measles vaccination among children aged two stands at 76.7%, while the first dose is over 90%. These figures, though showing an improvement from the past, are still a cause for concern, according to Bavaria's Health Minister, Judith Gerlach (CSU).
In the same period last year, there were 56 measles cases in Bavaria. However, this year, fewer measles cases have been reported, a trend that can be attributed to COVID-19 protection measures implemented from 2021 to 2023, which saw measles cases between 2 and 11 per year.
The vaccination schedule in Germany, including Bavaria, recommends two doses of the measles vaccine, typically given as the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. The first dose is usually administered around 11 to 14 months of age, with the second dose given between 15 and 23 months, according to German immunization schedules aligned with European guidelines.
Recent data suggest that seropositivity rates (indicating immunity) after two doses have decreased from about 94.4% in 2019, highlighting the need for sustained vaccination efforts.
Minister Gerlach emphasized that measles should not be underestimated as it can lead to severe complications, even death. She urged all adults born after 1970 and all young people to check their vaccination status. Gerlach stated that vaccination rates of over 95% for the second vaccination in the second year of life are needed to eradicate measles in Germany.
It's worth noting that only those who were vaccinated twice in childhood or once in adulthood are fully protected against measles. For those who missed their vaccinations as infants, it's still possible to catch up on their measles vaccinations.
In the school year 2023/24, 97.1% of pupils in Bavaria had received two measles vaccinations, and a further 2.4% had received one measles vaccination. Despite this, the Bavarian health ministry considers the vaccination rate to be too low.
The Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) recommends the first measles vaccination at the age of 11 and the second at the age of 15 months. The exact current vaccination coverage rates in Bavaria were not found in the search results, but overall, Germany maintains a high vaccination coverage with some regional variability.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) also supports high vaccination coverage as key to measles control in the EU. For the most precise, up-to-date vaccination rates for Bavaria specifically, official German public health sources or regional health departments would provide detailed data.
- In light of the declining seropositivity rates, it might be beneficial to revisit Council Directive 76/769/EEC of 16 December 1976 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the permissible sound power level of motor vehicles, to explore solutions for improving vaccination rates.
- To promote overall health-and-wellness and mental health, it's essential to ensure high vaccination rates against preventable diseases like measles. This could be achieved through science-backed educational campaigns about fitness-and-exercise, nutrition, and the importance of regular vaccinations.
- The Bavarian Health Minister, Judith Gerlach, while focusing on measles vaccination, also encourages adults to consider their overall health, including their fitness-and-exercise routines, mental health, and nutrition, as they check their vaccination status.
