At the meeting, issues related to measles and vaccination in Kazakhstan were discussed.
According to information from the Ministry of Health, in 2024, the incidence of measles decreased by 85% compared to the previous year; however, since the beginning of the current year, 1,951 cases of the disease have been recorded. The highest number of cases is observed in Astana, Almaty, as well as in the Zhambyl and Atyrau regions. The main risk groups are children under five years old, mostly unvaccinated, often due to parental refusals of vaccination.
Deputy Prime Minister Aida Balaeva emphasized the importance of daily monitoring of the epidemiological situation regarding measles at the level of regional headquarters operating under the akimats and highlighted the responsibility of local leaders. She instructed to pay special attention to monitoring the measles situation and to intensify efforts to inform the population about the importance of vaccination, as in some regions, for example, in the Mangistau region, target vaccination rates are not being met.
Earlier, the Ministry of Health reported that 79% of those infected since the beginning of the year were unvaccinated, 8.4% had only partial vaccination, 10% had an unknown immune status, and about 59% of unvaccinated children did not receive vaccinations due to parental wishes.
