WHO Executive Board supports goal to eliminate measles
Member States ― meeting at the 125th session of the WHO Executive Board on 23 May 2009 ― were encouraged by the progress in measles mortality reduction in a number of regions, the success in the Americas in measles elimination and the cost-effectiveness of vaccination. With an estimated 197 000 annual measles deaths, the death toll is still alarmingly high and several countries mentioned the importance of tackling this to reach Millennium Development Goal Four on reducing child mortality. Cognizant of the challenges ahead, Member States mentioned: vaccine security, public concerns over the perceived safety of vaccination, the importance of maintaining high routine vaccination coverage, funding gaps and the need to do more in the South-East Asia Region. WHO Secretariat will report back on the feasibility of global measles elimination in 2010, rather than 2011 as originally planned.