Measles cases are rising in Kosovo, with health authorities reporting 151 confirmed infections over a period of just over four months and warning parents about the importance of vaccination.
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More than 95% of the confirmed cases occurred among unvaccinated people, highlighting the importance of vaccination in protecting children against the highly contagious disease.
Despite the increase in infections, health officials say there is still significant interest among parents in having their children vaccinated.
From January through August, a total of 8,540 children were vaccinated.
More Than 8,500 Children Vaccinated
Xhevrie Canolli, head of vaccination services at the Main Family Medicine Center in Pristina, told KosovaPress that thousands of children have received measles vaccinations since the beginning of the year.
According to Canolli, 2,500 children aged between one and five were vaccinated, along with 2,900 children aged five to seven and 3,140 first-grade students.
Children receive the first measles vaccine at around one year of age, while the second dose is administered later, including to children entering primary school.
Vaccination Remains the Most Effective Protection
Health authorities emphasize that vaccination remains the safest and most effective way to prevent further transmission of measles.
Canolli warned that although measles is often associated with childhood fever and rash, the infection can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia, ear infections, encephalitis and permanent health consequences.
In severe cases, complications can become life-threatening.
She stressed that the benefits of vaccination significantly outweigh the risk of possible side effects.
The most common side effects are generally mild and may include a slight fever, tiredness, loss of appetite and weakness. Some children may also experience mild swelling or redness at the injection site, which usually disappears within one or two days.
Parents Urged to Check Their Children's Vaccination Records
Because measles spreads extremely quickly within communities, health officials are urging parents and caregivers to check their children's vaccination records.
“If a child is missing a measles vaccine, parents should take them as soon as possible to the nearest family medicine center,” Canolli advised.
She also urged parents not to rely on unverified misinformation and conspiracy theories about vaccine side effects, emphasizing the importance of obtaining health information from reliable scientific and medical sources.
The National Institute of Public Health of Kosovo has issued a similar appeal, stressing that vaccination is the best protection against measles.
With more than 150 confirmed cases already recorded, health authorities are continuing to encourage vaccination as a key measure to prevent further spread of the disease, particularly among children and other vulnerable groups.