The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says an estimated 169 million children missed out on the first dose of the measles vaccine between 2010 and 2017 or 21.1 million children a year on average.
UNICEF’s Executive Director, Ms Henrietta Fore made this known on Thursday in commemoration of the World Immunisation Week marked annually between April 24 and 30.
According to her, widening pockets of unvaccinated children have created a pathway to the measles outbreaks hitting several countries around the world today.
“The ground for the global measles outbreaks we are witnessing today was laid years ago; the measles virus will always find unvaccinated children.
“If we are serious about averting the spread of this dangerous but preventable disease, we need to vaccinate every child, in rich and poor countries alike, “ she said.
The director said that two doses of the measles vaccine were essential to protect children from the disease.
She said, however, due to lack of…
