Should Vaccine Passports Include Measles in 2022

While the world continues debating the benefits of COVID-19 vaccine passports, other serious diseases spread to international travelers, such as measles.

Measles is common in many parts of the world, including popular tourist destinations.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently confirmed measles outbreaks are ongoing in various African countries during 2022.

To alert international travelers, the CDC issued a Watch - Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions, on March 4, 2022, saying prospective visitors to Africa, including infants and children, should be fully vaccinated against measles, according to the CDC’s 2022 immunization schedule.

The CDC’s updated map indicates which African countries are confronting measles outbreaks as of March 4, 2022.

Keep in mind that destinations reporting measles outbreaks are not the only places where the infection is a risk. 

For example, the U.K. recently confirmed an under-vaccination situation near London.

And as of February 8, 2022, the CDC confirmed three other countries are battling measles outbreaks: India (4,259), Nigeria (4,114), and Somalia (2,908).

Furthermore, measles cases continue to be identified in the U.S.

On February 7, 2022, Fairfax Health District in northern Virginia, near Dulles International Airport, identified measles amongst an unvaccinated individual with recent international travel. 

Additionally, multiple exposure locations were identified in the Fairfax Health District.

In 2021, the Virginia Department of Health reported Fairfax County (12) and Prince William County (7) met the measles outbreak definition.

Moreover, during the 2018-2019 measles outbreak in the U.S., most cases were traced back to unvaccinated international travelers.

Measles is a vaccine-preventable disease, says the CDC.

There are two U.S. FDA Approved measles vaccines in 2022:

• Merck’s M-M-R-II for use in people ages 12 months and older
• Proquad with an integrated Varicella Virus Vaccine, which is Approved for children ages 1 through 12 years

And the Priorix and Tresivac vaccines are authorized in various countries.

Since many travelers have already secured International Certificates of Vaccination or Prophylaxis for yellow fever, meningococcal meningitis, and polio immunization, perhaps measles will be added to this program in 2022.

For additional measles vaccine information, please visit this webpage.

Vax-Before-Travel publishes fact-checked research-based travel vaccine news.