A matter of time when the measles epidemic will happen, only 11 percent of children born last year were vaccinated

We no longer doubt at all that there will be a measles epidemic, it's just a matter of time when it will happen, epidemiologist Adis Martinović from the Institute for Public Health said in Boje muća.

Children born in 2021 were vaccinated this year.

"About 7.000 of the 800 children were vaccinated. That's 11 percent. A very small percentage that is similar to the data from the previous year," said Martinović.

In order to prevent a possible epidemic and create collective immunity, Dr. Martinović will point out that it is necessary to reach 95 percent by vaccination.

"The best coverage is achieved with the BSG vaccine because it is given immediately upon discharge from the maternity hospital. We have a coverage of close to 95 percent. Better coverage of the MMR vaccination is present in the older generations, of school age, because parents postpone the vaccination until the child can walk and talk." Martinovic explained.

He points out that in Montenegro there is a problem with the timeliness of vaccination.

"When they start school, they are practically vaccinated. But as soon as we postpone the vaccine, we expose the child to the risk of infection, and the most sensitive age for measles is up to five years old. That's when the biggest complications occur," said Martinović.

He explains that every infectious disease has some natural cycles of its own and occurs in epidemic form at intervals.

"Measles is characterized by the fact that it can occur at intervals of five to six years. Thanks to this, a certain percentage of the susceptible population suitable for the development of an epidemic accumulates. We no longer doubt that there will be epidemics, it's just a matter of time. We have between 25.000 and 30.000 of unvaccinated children up to the age of 18. You realize how much of a burden that would be on the system."