Measles Outbreak Spurs Urgent Vaccination Drive in Kosovo

Between 16 April and 8 May, Kosovo health authorities confirmed ten measles cases, all in unvaccinated children under two years old. Four patients are currently receiving treatment at the Infectious Diseases Clinic of the University Clinical Center of Kosovo, with one experiencing severe lung complications and another requiring ophthalmologic care.

The outbreak has prompted a marked increase in parental demand for the MMR vaccine. In April alone, over 200 children were vaccinated at family medicine centers in Pristina, raising the first‑quarter total to 686 vaccinations for children aged one to five. Health officials stress that vaccination is legally mandatory and the most effective way to halt further spread, urging parents to ignore misinformation and consult medical professionals. The Coalition of NGOs for Child Protection (KOMF) has called for intensified door‑to‑door vaccination campaigns and increased identification of unvaccinated children.

Public health officials warn that unvaccinated children, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals remain at high risk, and emphasize that full protection requires two doses of the MMR vaccine.