New measles vaccination schedules in the European countries?

Abstract

Over the last 5 years, a number of outbreaks of measles have occurred in several European Union (EU) countries. Many of these outbreaks continue and/or continued for more than 1 year after the notification of the first case. Curiously in many of measles outbreaks about 10% of the patients were less than 12 months of age. All these patients according to the current EU countries vaccination calendars were not yet vaccinated against measles. Based on the results of measles outbreaks, especially age of affected patients, we should consider changing measles vaccination schedules in all EU countries. Most of mothers between 30 and 40 years of age are not vaccinated against measles, and many of them are not naturally immune against measles. These mothers do not pose antibodies against measles and in turn do not provide vertical protection for their infants. In conclusion, administrating the first dose of measles vaccine in the EU countries should be considered before 12 months of age, most probably at 9 months of age.