WASHINGTON, United States (CMC) – The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) is calling for urgent action to address gaps in immunisation coverage as countries in the Americas, including the Caribbean, confront outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and yellow fever.

“Over the past five decades, vaccines have saved 154 million lives worldwide, reducing child mortality by 41 per cent in the Americas alone,” said PAHO director, Dr Jarbas Barbosa, ahead of Vaccination Week in the Americas from April 26 to May 3.

But he has warned that “our progress against vaccine-preventable diseases needs a strong and lasting commitment to implement the appropriate public health measures”.

PAHO said worldwide, confirmed measles cases exceeded 359,000 last year and, combined with gaps in vaccination coverage, have led to localised outbreaks across six countries in the Americas, with 2,313 reported cases so far this year, up from just 215 during the same period in 2024.

“Measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world. Yet countries have struggled to sustain the recommended 95 per cent coverage of MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine, which leaves us susceptible to imported cases,” the PAHO director said.

But PAHO said progress has been made in recent years. For the first time since 2019, MMR1 coverage increased in 2023, reaching 87 per cent across the Americas. Despite this improvement, there remains a significant gap: 1.4 million children in the Region did not receive any dose of the MMR vaccine that year.

Outbreaks have been observed in communities where just three to seven per cent of individuals were susceptible, highlighting the risk posed by even small pockets of low coverage.

During this year’s Vaccination Week in the Americas, countries across the region plan to administer an estimated 66.5 million doses of vaccines, including 2.7 million targeting measles.

Now in its 23rd year, Vaccination Week, a flagship initiative led by PAHO, has so far enabled over 1.2 billion people to be vaccinated since its launch in 2003. Under the slogan “Your decision makes the difference. Immunisation for all,” countries are mobilising to reach those at highest risk of missing vaccines, especially children.

In 2025, the region has also seen an uptick in yellow fever, with four countries reporting 189 cases so far, including 74 deaths, compared to 61 cases and 30 deaths reported during 2024.

To address these outbreaks, PAHO is working with countries to tackle vaccine hesitancy, strengthen routine immunisation programmes, and expand access to vaccination through the use of micro planning and digital tools such as electronic immunisation registries and geographic information systems. T

These tools help monitor coverage, identify gaps, “stop the virus in its tracks,” Dr. Barbosa said, highlighting the importance of the PAHO Revolving Fund, a pooled procurement mechanism that allows countries in the Americas to access high-quality vaccines at affordable prices. “Without the Fund, countries would pay at least 75 per cent more for the region’s 13 most common vaccines,” he said.

Dr Barbosa said that while Vaccination Week in the Americas “remains a cornerstone of public health in the region, immunisation does not end with Vaccination Week.”

The Americas have a legacy of leadership in vaccination and disease elimination. The region was the first to eliminate smallpox in 1974 and polio in 1994, and has also eliminated measles, rubella, congenital rubella syndrome, maternal and neonatal tetanus, and outbreaks of urban yellow fever.

Now, PAHO is supporting countries through its Disease Elimination Initiative, a bold effort to eliminate more than 30 diseases and related conditions by 2030, 11 of which are vaccine-preventable.

In 2024, the region successfully regained its status as free of endemic measles. While this status remains intact, recent outbreaks serve as a reminder of the ongoing risk and the importance of maintaining high vaccination coverage to prevent the reestablishment of endemic transmission.

“The region of the Americas is ours to protect. By working together, throughout vaccination week and beyond, we can build a stronger, safer, and healthier America,” the PAHO director said.

PAHO said that the theme for Vaccination Week this year, “Your decision makes a difference. Immunisation for all,” highlights the urgent need to prevent the spread of life-threatening diseases and keep each one of us, our families, and our communities, safe.