The global number of children receiving measles vaccinations is on the rise, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO).
WHO indicates that vaccination rates are nearly back to pre-pandemic levels, but experts emphasize the need for further increases to effectively combat measles.
Dr. Alok Patel, a medical contributor for ABC News, highlighted the lingering effects of the pandemic on vaccination rates: “We haven’t really caught up to where we need to be. Widespread vaccine hesitancy and misinformation are setting the stage for continued outbreaks, as observed throughout 2025.”
Measles, a highly infectious disease, has seen a resurgence with active cases surpassing pre-COVID figures. Dr. Patel explained the ease of measles transmission through respiratory droplets and its ability to linger in the air and on surfaces.
The Pan American Health Organization recently revoked Canada’s measles elimination status due to a significant outbreak in under-vaccinated communities across the country since October 2024. The loss of this status, held since 1998, has impacted the entire Americas region.
In a single week in November, the BC Centre for Disease Control confirmed 26 new cases of measles. Achieving herd immunity against measles, one of the most contagious diseases globally, requires 95% vaccination coverage.