Breaking the vaccination challenges to fight measles in Ethiopia

Abstract

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection caused by the measles virus, a single-stranded enveloped RNA virus belonging to the genus Morbillivirus in the family Paramyxoviridae. Measles, also known as rubeola, is transmitted through close contact with an infected person or via airborne particles. It is a vaccine-preventable disease and is more common in children under the age of 5. The clinical signs usually appear after 9 – 19 days, and the typical symptoms are fever, cough, coryza, conjunctivitis, and Koplik ’ s spots on the buccal cavity [1] . It is among the top causes of death for children under the age of 5 in African countries [2] . Fighting measles is a serious public health concern for developing countries, including Ethiopia. There is an increase in the number of measles cases in Ethiopia, which is an alarming situation for the public health sector [3] . Despite the availability of vaccines, communities are vulnerable to measles outbreaks. We are writing this article to address the challenges that hinder vaccination progress in Ethiopia. Our aim through this correspondence is to critically analyze the problems related to vaccine programs and provide recommendations so that children in Ethiopia can receive measles vaccination and lead a healthy life.