The medical world is on alert, after the confirmation of the first two cases of measles in Cyprus for 2018, with the Head of the Infection Surveillance Unit of the Ministry of Health and the Deputy Director of the Pediatric Clinic of Makareio Hospital, Maria Koliou to make sure that their children are properly vaccinated, since there is a risk that the epidemic will spread to the Cypriot population at any time.
It is noted that in 2017 three cases of measles were confirmed in Cyprus, while both last year and this year the cases concerned children who live permanently in Cyprus, but come from a country of the European Union.
The two cases that were identified this year, concern siblings aged 3 and 6 years, who were unvaccinated. The children have already recovered without any complications.
As Ms. Koliou told KYPE, these are children who had not been vaccinated and who visited their country, where there is an outbreak of the epidemic, and returned ill.
He noted that "there is a risk that it will spread to our population at any time", adding that "the fact that it did not expand is quite encouraging and shows that we have a shield of protection with vaccination coverage."
"On the other hand, we are concerned about the fact that the virus enters our country every now and then and we should maintain high vaccination coverage," he said.
He also called on parents to make sure their children are vaccinated properly and properly.
Vaccination coverage rate in Cyprus
Answering a question from KYPE, the Head of the Infection Surveillance Unit of the Ministry of Health and Deputy Director of the Pediatric Clinic of Makareio Hospital, said that we have a satisfactory percentage of vaccination coverage in Cyprus, to note, however, that there is much room for improvement.
He said that around 90% are vaccinated with the first dose of the vaccine, while the percentage of children who were not vaccinated due to the refusal of their parents is very small and reaches 1% to 2%.
Regarding the remaining 8% who have not been vaccinated, Ms. Koliou said that it concerns children who had a postponement of their vaccination due to various disabilities, but at the moment they have either already been vaccinated or will be vaccinated soon.
Contact with unvaccinated children is a risk
Referring to the dangers that lurk, Ms. Koliou said that there is a risk for unvaccinated children if they come in contact with such incidents, to note however that vaccinated children are not at risk.
"With the first dose of vaccination, you are 90% covered. There is a 5% that does not respond to the first dose and that is why the second dose of the vaccine is given, which covers another 8%. "After the second installment, we are 98% covered," he said.
It is noted that the measles vaccine is given in two doses, the first at the age of 13 to 14 months and the second at the age of 4 years.
Complications caused by measles
In addition, he said, measles is a serious disease that can cause pneumonia, severe encephalitis and conjunctivitis.
In immunocompromised children, this disease can even cause death.
"That's why we say we have a duty to vaccinate our children, because our own baby may not be at risk for measles, but an immunosuppressed baby next to him may die," he said.
Free vaccinations from the state
Measles vaccinations are provided free of charge by the state.
The Head of the Infection Surveillance Unit of the Ministry of Health and Deputy Director of the Pediatric Clinic of Makareio Hospital said that in all of Cyprus there are a total of 63 state vaccination centers, which offer completely free vaccines to the entire population of Cyprus without formalities. and identities, with the ultimate goal of attracting even illegal residents of Cyprus to be vaccinated for the benefit of public health.
Vaccines are also free for adults, because those adults who have not been vaccinated and have never gotten sick should be vaccinated.
According to data, the measles epidemic that had recently hit Europe has also affected the elderly.
The measles outbreak in Europe started in Romania and spread to other European countries, including Greece.
Cyprus Pediatric Society
The Cyprus Pediatric Society issued a statement on the issue today, stating that "there is no cause for concern", since, as he adds, "on the one hand, all appropriate measures had been taken to avoid possible spread of the infection and on the other hand the percentage vaccination coverage of our population for this disease is particularly high ".
"On this occasion, however, we once again urge parents to re-examine their children's vaccination coverage against the measles virus and in the event that, depending on the age of the children, any dose of the vaccine is pending, arrange for them to be given as soon as possible. possible ", he notes.
Source: KYPE