A health worker administers a measles vaccine to a student at a school in Narathiwat province on November 2, 2018. (Photo: Waedao Harai)
Health authorities have launched an intensive vaccination campaign in response to a troubling outbreak of measles in Thailand’s three southernmost provinces. Five lives have been claimed by the highly contagious disease in recent weeks in Yala, Narathiwat, and Pattani, with three of the victims being children under the age of 15. The other two victims were adults aged 32 and 43, according to Dr. Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn, the director-general of the Department of Disease Control (DDC). He described the current situation as severe and “very worrisome.”
From January 1 to September 2, a staggering 4,408 individuals were suspected of having contracted measles, with 2,371 of these cases confirmed by laboratory tests. Alarmingly, 371 of the infected individuals developed pneumonia as a complication.
Dr. Thongchai emphasized that measles is preventable with the appropriate vaccine. Nationally, between 80% and 90% of the population has been vaccinated against measles; however, the vaccination rate in the South is worryingly low at just 40-50%. In such an environment, one infected person can potentially spread the disease to at least 50 others, underscoring the urgency of the vaccination campaign.
The current campaign is focusing on kindergarten and primary school students, with authorities rushing to administer vaccinations in schools before the school break next month. Tracking students and administering vaccines individually at home during the break would be significantly more challenging.
“Measles can infect people year-round, but outbreaks tend to spike from July to September,” said Dr. Thongchai. “We need to vaccinate as many people as possible. It’s all about prevention through vaccination, and it’s imperative that we take immediate action.”
He noted that the lower vaccination rate in the southern provinces is partly due to concerns about post-vaccination side effects. Some children develop a fever after the injection, leading parents to keep them out of school. In turn, parents often have to stay home to care for their children, resulting in a loss of income.
Because vaccination is non-compulsory, local administrative organizations bear the responsibility of educating residents about the significant benefits of vaccines in preventing disease outbreaks.
Dr. Woraya Luang-on, the director of the department’s General Contagious Disease Division, explained that the measles vaccine is administered in two doses: the first between nine and 12 months of age, and the second at 18 months. Both doses are essential to achieve full vaccine efficacy. To ensure complete protection, the vaccination rate must exceed 95% of the population in any given area.
Measles, a childhood infection caused by a virus, typically presents with a constellation of symptoms including fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, and inflamed eyes. Despite being a seemingly harmless childhood disease, measles can lead to severe complications, making vaccination an indispensable line of defense.
This is terrifying. How can there still be such low vaccination rates in 2024?
Many parents are still scared of side effects. Plus, misinformation is rampant.
Exactly. It’s not just about availability but addressing the distrust in vaccines.
You’re right. We need more education and public health campaigns.
I just don’t get it. Are we going back to medieval times? Vaccines save lives, people!
Calling people medieval won’t help. We need to understand their concerns.
The government should make vaccinations compulsory, especially during outbreaks.
That’s a dangerous path. Personal choice is important too.
Not when that personal choice endangers others’ lives!
There’s a balance to strike here. Education needs to play a bigger role.
Education, yes. But sometimes mandates are necessary in public health crises.
I’m skeptical of the side effect claims. What evidence do we have?
Studies show serious side effects are exceedingly rare. It’s just fear mongering.
I agree side effects are rare, but the fears aren’t all baseless. Some are due to past vaccine issues.
Efforts like these are crucial, but what are they doing to ensure compliance?
They’re focusing on schools, which seems smart since tracking kids at home is tough.
True, but what about those who miss the school vaccinations?
Why isn’t there more awareness about measles severity?
Media coverage could be better. People don’t understand how serious measles can be.
Considering the numbers, shouldn’t the government provide financial support for parents during vaccination times?
Financial support sounds good, but who will fund it?
Why isn’t there a global push for 100% vaccination?
Not all regions have the same resources or public health infrastructure. It’s complicated.
True, but isn’t it in everyone’s best interest to achieve herd immunity everywhere?
Absolutely, but it requires international cooperation, funding, and political will.
I think part of the problem is language barriers and local beliefs. How are they addressing these issues?
They’re working with local leaders to communicate in culturally sensitive ways.
Glad to hear it. That kind of approach might make a real difference.
It’s curious how reactions to vaccines vary widely. What’s the deeper sociological reason behind this?
Past abuses in public health campaigns have left long-lasting mistrust in some communities.
Fears about side effects can also be amplified by social media. The spread of misinformation is a huge issue.
Absolutely! Social media can be a breeding ground for fear and misinformation.
If the government doesn’t act now, this could get much worse. Immediate action is necessary.
I think there needs to be more focus on educating people about the risks of not vaccinating.