Chile health ministry urges measles vaccination for children before overseas travel

Chile’s Subsecretary of Public Health, Alejandra Pizarro, called on parents and guardians to confirm that children have received both mandatory doses of the measles vaccine before traveling abroad. The appeal comes amid measles outbreaks in neighboring countries such as Mexico, Canada, the United States and Peru, and a surge in international travel during the winter holidays and the FIFA World Cup.

Although Chile has gone more than three decades without endemic measles transmission, a lower‑coverage booster dose means an estimated 95,000 children under six lack complete protection. Officials advise checking vaccination records on the Ministry’s portal and, if necessary, receiving the doses at least 15 days prior to departure. The guidance also covers infants aged six months to one year who have not yet received their first dose, and adults born between 1971 and 1981 who are unsure of their vaccination status.

The Subsecretary also reminded the public of the World Health Organization’s recent declaration of an international health emergency concerning an Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa, noting that the risk to Chile remains low.