Over 66 million vaccine doses to be administered during Vaccination Week in the Americas, including 2.7 million doses of measles-containing vaccine

Washington, DC, 24 April 2025 (PAHO) – As countries in the Americas confront outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and yellow fever, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, called for urgent action to address gaps in immunization coverage.

“Over the past five decades, vaccines have saved 154 million lives worldwide, reducing child mortality by 41% in the Americas alone”, the PAHO Director said during a press briefing held today ahead of Vaccination Week in the Americas— a flagship initiative led by PAHO, taking place from April 26 to May 3. However, “our progress against vaccine-preventable diseases needs a strong and lasting commitment to implement the appropriate public health measures.”

Worldwide, confirmed measles cases exceeded 359,000 in 2024. This, combined with gaps in vaccination coverage, have led to localized 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. Three deaths have been confirmed, and another is under investigation.

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

Progress has been made in recent years. For the first time since 2019, MMR1 coverage increased in 2023, reaching 87% 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 3% to 7% 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, the initiative 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. Immunization for all,” countries are mobilizing 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 immunization programs, and expand access to vaccination through the use of microplanning and digital tools such as electronic immunization registries and geographic information systems. These tools help monitor coverage, identify gaps, and “stop the virus in its tracks,” Dr. Barbosa said.

Dr. Barbosa also highlighted 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% more for the Region’s 13 most common vaccines,” he said.

While Vaccination Week in the Americas “remains a cornerstone of public health in the Region,” Dr. Barbosa emphasized that “immunization does not end with Vaccination Week.”

The Americas has 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,” Dr. Barbosa said. “By working together, throughout vaccination week and beyond, we can build a stronger, safer, and healthier Americas,” the PAHO Director concluded.

Vaccination Week in the Americas

Vaccination Week in the Americas is a regional initiative that aims to promote equity and access to vaccination in all countries of the Region of the Americas. The theme this year, “Your decision makes a difference. Immunization 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.

The Regional launch of the week will take place on Monday, 28 April, in Panama. National launches and initiatives will also be held throughout the Region.

Deandrea Hamilton

Editor

April 24, 2025 – U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. held a press conference on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, unveiling a bold new initiative aimed at improving the quality of ingredients used in processed foods—particularly those marketed to children.

“Too many of our kids are consuming products filled with additives, chemicals, and ultra-processed ingredients that we now know contribute to long-term health problems,” Kennedy said. “It’s time we raise the bar on what we allow in their food.”

The initiative, still in its early stages, will involve tighter regulation of food labeling, a re-evaluation of approved food additives, and new nutritional standards for packaged products. Kennedy emphasized that the plan is not just about consumer protection but about confronting a major public health crisis.

“We are seeing rising rates of childhood obesity, diabetes, and other preventable illnesses. Much of this can be traced to the quality—not just the quantity—of what kids are eating,” he said.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has raised significant concerns about the rising rates of childhood obesity in the Caribbean, attributing much of the problem to the increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods. These products, often high in sugars, fats, and salt, are replacing traditional, more nutritious foods in the diets of families across the region.

The Department of Health and Human Services will work in tandem with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reassess the long list of ingredients currently permitted in children’s food. The review process will include consultations with scientists, pediatricians, and consumer advocacy groups.

A 2019 PAHO report highlighted that sales of ultra-processed foods and beverages in Latin America and the Caribbean grew by 8.3% between 2009 and 2014, with an estimated further increase of 9.2% from 2014 to 2019. This surge has been linked to aggressive marketing strategies and the widespread availability of these products, leading to unhealthy dietary patterns among children.

One of the most immediate actions proposed includes revisiting GRAS (“Generally Recognized As Safe”) designations, which Kennedy argues have allowed too many questionable ingredients to bypass rigorous testing. He also signaled possible restrictions on marketing unhealthy foods to children.

“This isn’t about banning fun snacks,” Kennedy clarified. “It’s about making sure what’s inside those snacks doesn’t harm a child’s development or health.”

The move has been met with cautious optimism by public health experts and advocacy groups who have long called for greater transparency and reform in food production. Food manufacturers, meanwhile, are expected to push back, arguing the cost of reformulation could be significant.

Nonetheless, Kennedy remained firm: “Children deserve better. Parents deserve to trust that what’s on store shelves is safe. This is about the future of our country’s health.”

More details on the plan’s timeline and implementation will be released in the coming months.

By LINDSAY THOMPSON
Bahamas Information Services
 

NASSAU, The Bahamas – Making good on his administration’s pledge to have healthcare accessible in all communities, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Hon. Philip Davis broke ground for the Coconut Grove Advanced Health Centre.

Despite rainy and windy conditions on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, the day was deemed a “big comeback” after Hurricane Matthew had derailed ongoing repairs to the Coconut Grove Clinic in 2016.

Prime Minister Davis delivered the keynote address for the Ground Breaking Ceremony at the site on Grasmerd Bend, Baillou Hill Road, just opposite the National Insurance Board.

“It’s good to be here. I know the weather might not look too good today, but believe me when I say that every day we draw closer to a brighter, healthier future for The Bahamas is a good day,” he said.  “Today is a comeback.  A big comeback.”

For nearly 45 years the old Coconut Grove Clinic provided essential maternal and child health services, general care and health education to all who passed through its doors.  But after it sustained damage from Hurricane Matthew, services were transferred to the nearby Baillou Hill Road and Fleming Street clinics.

The new facility will restore services to those residents in the surrounding areas of St. Barnabas, Englerston, and Bain and Grants Town.

The prime minister observed that the reality is that extreme weather events are threatening lives and the systems which preserve them.

“My administration was determined not to let this clinic – and many other clinics throughout our islands – fall through the cracks again. We are working, every day, across every island, to improve the lives of Bahamians,” he said.

Underscoring that health is an important component of his administration’s Blueprint for Change, the prime minister further noted that expanding health infrastructure, maximizing access to health services, and driving positive health outcomes are among the top priorities.

“In breaking ground on the Coconut Grove Advanced Health Care Centre, we are making progress on each of these fronts. Accessible healthcare will soon be at your doorstep,” he said.

The Coconut Grove Advanced Health Centre will be built to Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) certification, making it not just sustainable and handicap accessible, but climate resilient.  It will be a 14,500-square-foot facility built on the four-acre site at just over $10.5 million.  Construction is mobilized and is expected to be completed in approximately 15 months.

The Hon. Dr. Michael Darville, Minister of Health and Wellness, said that the facility will serve as a community clinic providing primary and urgent care services, taking some of the strain off the Princess Margaret Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department.

“It is designed to reduce waiting time, improve access to care and give residents a welcoming environment that supports prevention, early detection, and long term wellness,” he said.

Professionals involved in the project include: project architect, Livingstone Forbes; structural and civil engineers, Island Dimensions Development Company; mechanical and electrical engineers, Chris Symonette and Associates; general contractor, A & M Construction Company Ltd.; and the ministry’s quantity surveyor Veritas Consultants Ltd.

(BIS Photos/Mark Ford)