The Israel Ministry of Health is reporting that a 7-year-old boy from Jerusalem with a underlying illness, who was vaccinated with one dose of measles, died yesterday upon arrival at the emergency room, following complications of measles.
This is the ninth death since the measles outbreak began. Up until the most recent case, all cases have been healthy infants with no underlying illnesses who were unvaccinated.
As of today, there are 16 hospitalized patients, of whom 8 are in intensive care after contracting measles.
The Ministry of Health reiterates that measles is a preventable disease through an effective and safe vaccine.
The Ministry emphasizes the importance of arriving on time to receive medical care when symptoms appear or suspicion of infection with the disease. Arriving on time – saves lives.
It is recommended that all children be vaccinated at the age of one and at the age of six (as part of the routine vaccination program) in places with an outbreak:
Introduction of the second dose of the vaccine to the age of one and a half.
Recommendation for additional vaccination for infants aged 6-11 months in areas with an outbreak and when traveling to places with an outbreak.
Areas currently defined as having an outbreak: Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh, Bnei Brak, Harish, Modi’in Illit, Nof HaGalil, Kiryat Gat, Ashdod, Safed, Netivot, the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council and the settlement of Tekoa.
The Ministry of Health recommends that those who are not vaccinated, as well as parents of infants who have received one vaccine between the ages of 6-11 months, avoid attending mass events in cities with outbreaks due to the risk of infection.
Following the Ministry of Health’s efforts to increase vaccination coverage, since September and compared to the same period last year, there has been a 500% increase in vaccinations in Jerusalem, and an even higher increase in Beit Shemesh – 630%. In light of these data, vaccination coverage for the first dose (between ages 1-6) against measles in Jerusalem has increased from 77% to 84% and in Beit Shemesh from 72% to 82.6%.