JAMA
Vol. 301 No. 14, pp. 1407-1498, April 8, 2009
http://jama.ama-assn.org/current.dtl

NEWS AND ANALYSIS
Progress in Global Measles Control and Mortality Reduction, 2000-2007
JAMA. 2009;301(14):1430-1431.
[Extract per JAMA convention]
Despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine since 1963, measles has been a major killer of children in developing countries (causing an estimated 750,000 deaths as recently as 2000), primarily because of underutilization of the vaccine.¹ At the World Health Assembly in 2008, all World Health Organization (WHO) member states reaffirmed their commitment to achieving a 90% reduction in measles mortality by 2010 compared with 2000, a goal that was established in 2005 as part of the Global Immunization Vision and Strategy.² This WHO-UNICEF comprehensive strategy for measles mortality reduction¹ focuses on 47 priority countries.* The strategy’s components include (1) achieving and maintaining high coverage (>90%) with the routinely scheduled first dose of measles-containing vaccine (MCV1) among children aged 1 year; (2) ensuring that all children receive a second opportunity for measles immunization (either through a second routine dose or through . . .