Feb 16 • 07:15 UTC 🇲🇽 Mexico Milenio (ES)

Increase in measles cases due to collapse of vaccination, warns Moreira

Mexican lawmaker Rubén Moreira attributes the rise in measles cases to the significant decline in vaccination rates since 2019 under President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

Rubén Moreira, the coordinator of the PRI in the Chamber of Deputies, has pointed out that the recent spike in measles cases in Mexico is primarily attributable to a severe drop in vaccination coverage following 2019, coinciding with the administration of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. He criticized the current director general of IMSS, Zoé Robledo, for blaming previous governments for the outbreak, arguing that such attribution is misleading and that it unfairly dismisses the systemic failures under the current administration.

Moreira emphasized that the most affected demographic is children aged between one and four years, as well as those aged five to nine years—indicating a concerning trend for children born in recent years. This assertion comes in light of the vaccination coverage statistics, which highlighted a stark decrease from a 97% coverage rate for the first dose and 99% for the second in 2018 to a mere 7% in 2019 under the current government. The data suggests a troubling trend that has implications for public health in Mexico, particularly as it relates to the well-being of young children.

The comments made during Moreira's social media program "Con peras, manzanas y naranjas" not only reflect a growing concern about public health policy but also serve as a criticism of the López Obrador administration's handling of vaccination campaigns. The implications of this vaccine decline could contribute to more severe public health challenges in the future, underscoring the need for immediate intervention and a reevaluation of strategies intended to protect children from preventable diseases like measles. If left unaddressed, these rising cases could lead to significant health crises.

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