Turkey at Risk of Measles Outbreak

Health Minister Fahrettin Kocamade statements about the “measles” issue, which we shared with you in the past hours. Minister Koca admitted that there has been an increase in measles cases in his statements on Twitter. However, according to Koca, measles-related infections in Turkey there were no casualties. Fahrettin Koca stated that the allegations were unfounded.

According to Fahrettin Koca’s post, there was one death, not two, associated with measles. The main cause of death of the foreign national who was born in 2015HIV/AIDSUnderlining that ” doing their part stated.

Fahrettin Koca’s statement is as follows:

News in the media that there are deaths due to measles cases in our country does not reflect reality. The allegations that raise concerns on the subject are unfounded. This statement was born out of the need to inform the public correctly.

First of all, we would like to draw attention to the following important information: There is a death due to measles. is not. The cause of death, allegedly or possibly due to measles, is multiorgan failure caused by HIV/AIDS disease. The patient is a foreign national, born in 2015..

As it is known, as a result of the studies carried out by our healthcare professionals in line with the relevant program, measles disease in our country completely under control was taken. However, in recent years, there has been an increase in measles cases in our country, as in many countries, due to cases from abroad. is real.

Despite the increasing vaccine rejection campaigns during the COVID-19 Pandemic period, as a result of the efforts of our healthcare professionals, our children’s KKK-I vaccine coverage has been achieved across the country. Keeping above 95% provided. It is pleasing that the number of children who are not vaccinated due to vaccine refusal is reported with the Follow-up/Vaccination Status Information Consent Form, which is gradually decreasing. For foreigners in Turkey, separate vaccination coverage is calculated. This rate is for MMR vaccine. Between 87 and 92% watching.

At the recommendation of our Immunization Advisory Board from 2019 We administer three doses of measles vaccine to our children, starting before the age of one. Scientific data point to the benefit of meticulously following the vaccination schedule in times of measles cases. On this occasion, we will inform our citizens about vaccination for the health of their children. to be meticulous We invite you.

In our country, as in the rest of the world, on the rise in measles cases In line with the decisions taken by the Immunization Advisory Board and the Measles Verification Committee, which consists of scientists working at various universities in our country, intensive control strategies have been put into practice in all our provinces, starting from Istanbul, as of January 2023. This control strategies in the framework of:

• of all cases contacts (home, school, workplace and hospital) are identified, post-exposure prophylaxis studies are carried out, and contacts are kept for the longest incubation period. being monitored.
• With field studies where cases are seen active case wantedvaccinated and unvaccinated children are vaccinated by field teams.
• Particularly in places where people live in groups (temporary shelters, removal centers, dormitories, etc.), active case research is carried out with the necessary screenings and strengthened surveillance studies. vaccination is provided.
• Strengthening triage and isolation measures in case of a suspicious case application to health institutions to the maximum has been removed. Healthcare workers are immune to measles. if it cannot be proven vaccinations are provided.
• determined by the Provincial Health Directorates. in risky areas Vaccination studies are carried out by going to homes.
• Similarly, military vaccination, tourism industry employees Vaccination studies are carried out for personnel working at airports and airports.
• Our family physiciansby reviewing the vaccination status of the children registered to them, to promptly vaccinate all children who are under-vaccinated according to their age. warned.
• Immigrant health centers Persons receiving service from the outpatient clinic of foreign nationals and foreign nationals are evaluated urgently, and all children who are under-vaccinated according to their age should be promptly evaluated. vaccination is done. ​ ​

Current situation at the last meeting of the Immunization Advisory Board this month evaluatedthe situation was found to be stable, although studies were conducted with the same seriousness. to continue decision has been taken.

Our health organization is required in this regard within the framework of international norms. doing all the work. The public should be in a sense of security that the statement made and necessary for vaccination. should be sensitive.

Regards.

So what happened?

There is an issue that should be the number one item on the agenda in Turkey, but is not talked about much. This matter Measles. Yes, you are not mistaken. Official statements reveal that there has been a very serious increase in measles cases in Turkey. According to experts, there are two main reasons for this. Anti-vaccination and irregular migration. Scientists say that the government should act immediately and that measles should be dropped from Turkey’s agenda.

Fulya Soybaş from Hürriyet according to the news Türkiye rose to the third place in Europe in measles prevalence. In as little as four months 1,440 measles cases seen. 242 of them were in intensive care. According to the statements made, as long as there is no intervention against measles, this disease is a part of the disease. it will turn into an epidemic it reveals.

There are two main causes of measles: Anti-vaccination and irregular migration!

General President of the Family Medicine Employees Union Dr. Ahmet Kandemir According to the statement made by Turkey, until recently, measles vaccination was very good. Even the fact that the vaccine was free made things easier. However, the debates that started with the COVID-19 vaccines turned into anti-vaccine Kandemir explains that with the addition of immigrants, the events have reached a risky point. Ahmet Kandemir’s statement on the subject is as follows:

“In fact, we are a country that cares about public health. We have achieved great success in vaccination so far. Vaccines such as measles, rubella and mumps are already in our vaccination calendar. Moreover, it is provided free of charge, which is a great advantage. Most of our patients who come to us and do not want to be vaccinated receive the vaccine. your hesitation increased after COVID-19 or it can be said to have occurred. In addition, there may be difficulties in convincing immigrants to be vaccinated due to cultural differences. As much as we can, we explain that measles is an epidemic disease and is very contagious, and remove the hesitations. However, our Ministry urgently needs to inform people and initiate campaigns in such a way as to eliminate all doubts. When the vaccination falls below 95 percent, the risk of epidemic begins, it has not turned into an epidemic yet, but additional measures are not taken, If nothing is done about irregular migration It will soon turn into an epidemic.”

Do not compare measles and COVID-19 vaccines! The history of the measles vaccine goes back to the 1960s.

Putting aside the superstitions like “they will chip in”, we can explain the most fundamental reason why people are wary of COVID-19 vaccines. unknown long-term effects We can say it is. However, some groups have begun to generalize this to all vaccines. In other words, they started to argue that vaccines related to not only COVID-19 but also other diseases should not be used. However, that there is no tangible. So why?

RELATED NEWS

Is BioNTech Struggling With Lawsuits Really Caused A Heart Attack Pandemic Due To Vaccines?

measles vaccine, first once in the 1960s used and has survived from those days until today. So the “long-term effects” of the measles vaccine were already identified years ago. Therefore, it does not make sense to equate the COVID-19 vaccines with the measles vaccine. To protect our health, our children must be vaccinated against measles. need to do. Let me also point out; Although measles is a disease that is commonly seen in children, adults can also get this disease and even be hospitalized…