April 16, 2024

Measles outbreaks are climbing in numerous countries across the globe, including the U.S. Measles is not a new challenge; effective vaccination for measles has been publicly available since 1963. And yet, countries such as India, with one of the largest populations in the world, has become one of the 37 countries experiencing substantial measles outbreaks.^1-7

With vaccination rates on the decline, outbreaks are primarily being driven by unvaccinated travelers going abroad.⁸ Employers have a renewed opportunity to reactivate programs and efforts put in place for COVID-19 and flu to educate employees on prevention through vaccination while addressing the impact of measles on their workforce.

Why Employers Should Care

No country is exempt from measles, and areas with low immunization rates help keep the virus circulating, increasing the likelihood of outbreaks and putting all unvaccinated and immunocompromised individuals at risk.¹³ A combination of factors, including delays in preventive care, vaccine shortages brought on by the pandemic and pediatric vaccination rates reaching historic lows, have coalesced to establish the perfect storm for this increase in measles cases globally.^13,14

Measles is a highly contagious disease, transferred through touch and respiration.¹¹ In a recent study, a single case of measles can cost $47,479, including direct medical costs (i.e., $1,051 for a single case of measles or more than $25,000 if hospitalized), indirect productivity and public health response costs.¹⁵

Vaccination Rates on the Decline

While some people cannot get vaccinated for medical reasons, including those who are immunocompromised, in the U.S., the number of children receiving no vaccinations by the age of 2 is increasing as non-medical exceptions (NMEs) have risen. Vaccine misinformation has increased and found quick transmission on social media.¹⁴ According to the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine’s The Vaccine Confidence Project (VCP), Ghana, Japan, Korea, Papua New Guinea and Senegal each saw a decline of more than 33 percentage points in public perception of the importance of childhood vaccinations (Figure 1).^{14,16, 17}

Source: London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine’s Vaccine Confidence Project

In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that for a second year in a row, the national measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination rate among kindergarten students fell below 95%, to 93%.¹⁸ This is noteworthy because 95% is the threshold set to prevent community transmission of measles.¹⁸ Furthermore, this figure is the lowest MMR rate reported in almost a decade and leaves approximately 250,000 school-children unvaccinated and unprotected against measles. ¹⁹ In England, several cities have measles vaccination rates at 75%, including Birmingham, which experienced an outbreak (Figure 2).^4,6 More than 3.4 million children (ages 15 or younger) are not fully vaccinated (many receiving only one dose).²⁷ The UK, which eradicated measles in 2017, currently has 250 cases, and India had more than 12,000 cases in 2023.^27,28

In many other countries, including those listed below, the two-dose measles vaccination rates are below the herd immunity 95% threshold: ²⁹

 

Source: Our World in Data, WHO/UNICEF 2022

NOTE: In order to achieve herd immunity or eradicate measles, a country would need to be at least 95% vaccinated (represented by the deep blue color above).

Progress in Emerging Markets

Global and country initiatives have been building infrastructure and running vaccination campaigns in parts of the world that are not vaccinated. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance  a public–private global health partnership with the goal of increasing access to immunization in poor countries, has worked with countries, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and employers to make these efforts possible.²⁰ For example, India’s 2021 childhood two-dose measles vaccination coverage is 31.9%.²¹ Through the Gavi initiative, India is striving for 90% vaccination rates across childhood immunizations, mainly by improving the vaccine supply chain and health care support infrastructure.^21,22

How Can Employers Increase Vaccination Rates?

• 1 | Conduct regular, targeted communication campaigns encouraging the use of vaccines to parents, especially those in localities with significant outbreaks of measles, flu or other diseases preventable with vaccines. When planning a campaign, consider including the following action steps:
• Offer preventive treatments like vaccinations at no cost to employees;
• Obtain vaccine safety and effectiveness guidance from reputable institutions such as the World Health Organization (WHO), U.K. National Health Service (NHS), India Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and U.S. CDC
• Educate people about how easily transmissible measles is to loved ones like younger children, aging parents and adults who cannot get vaccinated for medical reasons; and
• Publicize that vaccinations can be obtained at convenient sites of care, including pharmacies, primary care providers, many retail clinics and on-site clinics (if applicable).
• 2 | As part of the communication strategy incorporate culturally conscious messaging tactics:
• Engage community, religious and grassroots leaders who are reputable messengers and can build trust in public health systems and vaccine effectiveness.
• Encourage open and transparent conversations on vaccines by hosting virtual town halls with chief medical officers or other clinical personnel from diverse backgrounds to help vaccine-hesitant individual learn more about the benefits of vaccination. Consider recording these sessions and working with employee resource groups (ERGs) to disseminate them to relevant employee subpopulations.
• Provide communications in multiple languages to effectively deliver information about vaccine efficacy. Provide translated materials and interpreter services to increase overall health literacy.
• 3 | Provide vaccinations at on-site and near-site clinics for employees and dependents.

How Can Employers Prevent the Spread of Communicable Disease to Employees and Customers?

Employers can build off what they learned during the COVID-19 pandemic to address their workforce’s needs. Below are five areas to focus efforts:

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