A prolonged, nationwide measles outbreak despite very high vaccination coverage in Israel, 2018-19

Historical background of measles in Israel. After the introduction of universal measles vaccination for infants in Israel in 1967, the incidence rate of the disease in Israel dropped dramatically. Relatively moderate-sized outbreaks occurred in cycles of two- to five-year intervals, and by the early 1990s the mean annual incidence rate had decreased more than 90% compared to the pre-vaccination era. (The history of measles incidence and immunization strategies in Israel have been reported elsewhere [1].) Since the mid-1990s, MCV has been given in two doses at 12 months and six years, as part of Israel's routine immunization program.

Source: Journal of Infection - October 6, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Emilia Anis, Eric J Haas, Viki Indenbaum, Shephard Roee Singer, Bruce Warshavsky, Shmuel Rishpon, Manfred S Green, Ella Mendelson, Itamar Grotto, Ehud Kaliner, Siegal Sadetzki Source Type: research