Latest news with #ReginaDeDominicis
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Childhood vaccinations lag in Europe, making kids vulnerable to outbreaks of measles, other diseases
European children are less likely to get routine vaccinations than they were five years ago, according to a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO). Immunisations against measles, whooping cough, polio, and hepatitis B remained below pre-pandemic levels in Europe and Central Asia in 2024, due largely to a sense of 'vaccine complacency' that is already causing a resurgence of preventable diseases, the agency said. Last year, nearly 300,000 people in the region got whooping cough, more than three times as many as in 2023, the report found. More than 125,000 people got measles, the region's highest case count in more than 25 years. 'These are not just numbers – it's hundreds of thousands of families in anguish because their children are sick, and it could have been prevented,' Dr Hans Kluge, the WHO's Europe director, said in a statement. Related Parents urged to vaccinate their kids after child dies of measles in the UK More than half of the region's 53 countries had vaccination rates that were below the level needed to prevent outbreaks of measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, whooping cough, and tetanus. Health experts often point to vaccine hesitancy to explain why more parents are opting not to immunise their children. But Regina De Dominicis, who leads UNICEF's work in Europe and Central Asia, instead cited vaccine complacency, which is when parents believe the risks from preventable diseases are low and therefore do not see a reason to vaccinate their children. 'Today's generation has not witnessed the devastating impact of vaccine-preventable diseases – leading to complacency and making it easier for misinformation to take hold,' De Dominics said. Related Millions of children are missing out on routine jabs. Why aren't they getting vaccinated? Notably, Europeans are not turning away from all vaccines equally. Over the past five years, children and young people have become more likely to get vaccines that protect against human papillomavirus (HPV), rotavirus, pneumonia, and meningitis. Several countries have introduced these jabs in recent years, which is expected to help reduce rates of HPV infections and related cervical cancer, as well as child hospitalisations from bacterial diseases, pneumonia, and rotavirus-induced diarrhoea, the WHO said. To boost routine immunisation rates, health officials called on countries to shore up their health systems, ensure vaccines are widely available, and fight misinformation about the jabs. 'Communities must be empowered with trusted information, so parents can confidently vaccinate their children,' Kluge said.
Euronews
15-07-2025
- Health
- Euronews
Childhood vaccinations falling due to vaccine complacency, says WHO
European children are less likely to get routine vaccinations than they were five years ago, according to a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO). Immunisations against measles, whooping cough, polio, and hepatitis B remained below pre-pandemic levels in Europe and Central Asia in 2024, due largely to a sense of 'vaccine complacency' that is already causing a resurgence of preventable diseases, the agency said. Last year, nearly 300,000 people in the region got whooping cough, more than three times as many as in 2023, the report found. More than 125,000 people got measles, the region's highest case count in more than 25 years. 'These are not just numbers – it's hundreds of thousands of families in anguish because their children are sick, and it could have been prevented,' Dr Hans Kluge, the WHO's Europe director, said in a statement. More than half of the region's 53 countries had vaccination rates that were below the level needed to prevent outbreaks of measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, whooping cough, and tetanus. Health experts often point to vaccine hesitancy to explain why more parents are opting not to immunise their children. But Regina De Dominicis, who leads UNICEF's work in Europe and Central Asia, instead cited vaccine complacency, which is when parents believe the risks from preventable diseases are low and therefore do not see a reason to vaccinate their children. 'Today's generation has not witnessed the devastating impact of vaccine-preventable diseases – leading to complacency and making it easier for misinformation to take hold,' De Dominics said. Improvement on some newer vaccines Notably, Europeans are not turning away from all vaccines equally. Over the past five years, children and young people have become more likely to get vaccines that protect against human papillomavirus (HPV), rotavirus, pneumonia, and meningitis. Several countries have introduced these jabs in recent years, which is expected to help reduce rates of HPV infections and related cervical cancer, as well as child hospitalisations from bacterial diseases, pneumonia, and rotavirus-induced diarrhoea, the WHO said. To boost routine immunisation rates, health officials called on countries to shore up their health systems, ensure vaccines are widely available, and fight misinformation about the jabs. 'Communities must be empowered with trusted information, so parents can confidently vaccinate their children,' Kluge said.
Bahrain News Gazette
14-03-2025
- Health
- Bahrain News Gazette
Europe Records Highest Measles Cases Since 1997
Brussels: The European Region recorded the highest number of measles cases since 1997, with approximately 127,350 cases reported in 2024-more than double the number recorded in 2023-according to a joint report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). According to Bahrain News Agency, Regina De Dominicis, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, stated that measles cases had sharply increased across Europe and Central Asia over the past two years, reflecting gaps in immunisation coverage. She emphasised the need for an urgent government response to protect children from the disease, including sustained investment in healthcare workers. The report indicated that children under five accounted for more than 40% of reported cases in the Region, which includes 53 countries across Europe and Central Asia. More than half of the cases required hospitalisation, while 38 deaths were recorded, based on preliminary data as of March 6. The report added that measles cases had been gradually declining since 1997, when 216,000 cases were reported, reaching their lowest level in 2016 at 4,440 cases, before rising significantly in 2018 and 2019, with 89,000 and 106,000 cases recorded respectively. It further noted that the measles outbreaks in 2023 and 2024 coincided with a decline in immunisation rates during the COVID-19 pandemic, warning that many countries had yet to restore pre-pandemic coverage levels, increasing the risk of disease spread. The report highlighted that the European Region accounted for one-third of global measles cases in 2024, with approximately 500,000 children across the Region missing the first dose of the measles vaccine in 2023. The report emphasised that measles is one of the most contagious viruses, capable of causing severe complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis, and can be fatal in some cases. It added that measles remains a global threat, with approximately 359,521 cases reported worldwide in 2024. WHO and UNICEF called on governments to intensify efforts in case detection, contact tracing, and emergency vaccination campaigns, as well as strengthen healthcare systems to close immunisation gaps, with a focus on reaching high-risk communities.
