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Kosovo and North Macedonia face measles risks amid low vaccination rates
Health authorities in Kosovo and North Macedonia are raising alarms over declining vaccination rates and rising measles cases. In Kosovo, the National Institute of Public Health (IKShPK) reported 151 confirmed measles cases between April 16 and August 30, 2026. Notably, over 95% of these cases occurred in individuals who had not received the MMR vaccine. To combat the spread, catch-up vaccination programs have been intensified, reaching approximately 2,500 children aged 2 to 5 this year.
In North Macedonia, officials warned of a potential epidemic due to low immunization coverage. Dragan Kochinski of the Institute of Public Health stated that no vaccine in the regular schedule has reached the desired 95% coverage threshold for the first dose. Measles vaccine coverage is currently at 62%, while Hepatitis B stands at 77%, HPV at 51%, and polio at 79%. Health Minister Sasho Klekovski urged citizens to prioritize vaccinations, citing rising measles numbers in neighboring Kosovo and Bulgaria as a significant risk factor.
Entities
Dragan Kochinski · Dragan Koçinski · Institute of Public Health of Macedonia · Kosovo · National Institute of Public Health of Kosovo · North Macedonia · Sasho Klekovski
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Hepatitis B vaccine coverage in North Macedonia is 77%. telegrafi.com · lokalno.mk · meta.mk
- [● 2 SOURCES] Kosovo confirmed 151 measles cases between April 16 and August 30, 2026. www.arbresh.info · kosovapost.net
- [● 2 SOURCES] More than 95% of confirmed measles cases in Kosovo occurred in individuals unvaccinated with the MMR vaccine. www.arbresh.info · kosovapost.net
- [● 3 SOURCES] Measles vaccine coverage for the first dose in North Macedonia is 62%. telegrafi.com · lokalno.mk · meta.mk
- [● 2 SOURCES] Approximately 2,500 children aged 2 to 5 years in Kosovo received catch-up vaccinations this year. www.arbresh.info · kosovapost.net
- [● 3 SOURCES] HPV vaccine coverage in North Macedonia is 51%. telegrafi.com · lokalno.mk · meta.mk