There is a worsening situation with measles cases in Astana. According to information from the chief sanitary doctor of the capital, Aigul Shagaltaeva, 403 cases of measles have been registered in the last three weeks, which is 2.8 times more than the previous week.
Among those infected, 96% are children under 14 years old. Specifically, 28% of them are children under one year old, 60% are aged one to four years, 6.4% are aged five to nine years, 1.5% are aged ten to fourteen years, 1.7% are teenagers aged 15 to 19 years, and 2.7% are adults over 20 years old.
Additionally, Shagaltaeva reported that 95% of those infected (385 cases) are unvaccinated children. Of these, 257 cases (63.8%) are due to parents refusing vaccination, 112 children (28%) were not vaccinated due to reaching age, 9 cases (2%) are related to missed vaccination opportunities, and 7 cases (1.8%) are for medical reasons. There were also 18 cases (4.4%) among individuals with no vaccination data against measles.
In light of this situation, the sanitary doctor instructed the head of the city's public health department to analyze the vaccination coverage of children and adolescents up to 18 years old and to organize immunization activities for unvaccinated and partially vaccinated individuals. An additional vaccination will also be conducted for children aged 6 months to 10 months and 29 days.
The resolution states to ensure a high level of coverage with preventive vaccinations against measles, rubella, and mumps for children aged 1 year and 6 years.
In the event of measles cases being identified in educational institutions such as kindergartens and schools, sanitary and anti-epidemic measures must be initiated immediately, including emergency vaccination of all eligible individuals within 72 hours of the case being detected, taking into account vaccination history and medical contraindications. Daily monitoring of contacts will be conducted until the end of the incubation period.
The chief sanitary doctor of Astana also instructed not to admit unvaccinated children to planned hospitalizations in children's hospitals and to prevent them from attending schools during the incubation period following the last identified case of measles.
In kindergartens, groups must have at least 90% of vaccinated children or those with confirmed immunity, and educational institutions must organize a "morning filter" before each shift to prevent students and teachers with signs of acute respiratory diseases and measles from attending classes.
All anti-epidemic measures must continue until the situation with measles in the city improves.
