The measles outbreak in the Netherlands affected a large number of people with cases of complications including pneumonia, encephalitis and several admissions in hospitals (Knol et al., 2013). In spite of Netherlands being a developed country with adequate medical facilities and accessibility to clean water, the outbreak reflect the risk of failure to get immunised against virus. Indeed, the outbreak in Netherlands was in a region inhabited predominantly by orthodox Protestants with the people affected being the age bracket of 4 and 12. More than 95% of the infected people not immunised and more than 3% had partial immunisation (Knol et al., 2013). The number included health workers who were not immunised. A survey conducted to identify reasons for lack of immunisation or partial immunisation revealed more than 93% not immunised because of orthodox Protestantism, others cited anthroposophical, and others because of parental or personal critical perceptions of immunisation. Therefore, the majority of infected form the region cited religious reasons for not receiving vaccination with most people believing that intervention goes against God’s will for the people (Knol et al., 2013). This resulted in most people and their children not going for immunisation. The outbreak in a predominantly orthodox Protestant region is a major concern for immunisation coverage because it hinders preventive measures. The outbreak in the Netherlands highlights the significance of immunisation in the prevention of measles infections.
Regional variation in coverage issue
Regional variation in coverage is a problem in Europe because it contributes to persistent of the measles virus in the population, which affects detrimentally efforts to eradicate measles in the stipulated time. Indeed, in spite of several years of routine vaccination, failure to attain the recommended coverage of 95% contributes to the virus remaining among the population in Europe (Jacobson, 2001). For instance, surveys conducted between 2006 and 2007 indicated significant variation in cases of measles among regions in terms of the people affected most and actual location with measles incidents. Children without vaccination or those without full shots have high chances of infection as explained in variations of cases between regions that had achieved more than 95% coverage and those that were below the recommended mark (Jacobson, 2001).
Variation is regional coverage and the subsequent persistent of measles in the regions calls for adequate measures to ensure elimination of the virus in the stipulated time because of the disease’s serious complications. Prevention of measles achieved through vaccination with enough shots is the best way of containing the spread because the disease has no specific treatment. Although the disease is preventable, it continues to affect various regions because of poor immunisation coverage, which highlights the significance of achieving more than 95% coverage levels in all regions (Parker et al., 2006). Poor coverage means the regions are long way in achieving the recommended levels of coverage for elimination of the disease. Although several factors are responsible for people missing the immunisation or having it late, the major reasons are uncertainty among the population of the importance and risks associated with the immunisation. The reasons indicate the role of family physicians and paediatrics in educating people on the importance and no-risk nature of measles immunisation (Jacobson, 2001). Providing full information on the risks of measles as well as the risks and significance of immunisation is important in increasing awareness and eliminating doubts among the population, which results in achievement of the recommended coverage and eventual elimination of measles. I would pose the following question for further discussion: what should public health officials do in order to eliminate measles?
References
Jacobson, R. M. (2001). The seroepidemiology of measles in Western Europe. Ambulatory Child Health, 7(3‐4), 331-332.
Knol, M. J., Urbanus, A. T., Swart, E. M., Mollema, L., Ruijs, W. L., van Binnendijk, R. S.,… & Friedrich, A. W. (2013). Large ongoing measles outbreak in a religious community in the Netherlands since May 2013. Euro surveillance: bulletin Europeen sur les maladies transmissibles= European communicable disease bulletin, 18(36). 1-12.
Parker, A. A., Staggs, W., Dayan, G. H., Ortega-Sánchez, I. R., Rota, P. A., Lowe, L.,… & LeBaron, C. W. (2006). Implications of a 2005 measles outbreak in Indiana for sustained elimination of measles in the United States. New England Journal of Medicine, 355(5), 447-455.