Over 50% of measles cases in Greece are in the Roma population

In our country, there are populations that have not completed vaccination, and for this reason, they are extremely exposed, says the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (EKPA) professor

Regarding the epidemiological situation of measles in Greece, Gkikas Magiorkinis, a professor of hygiene and epidemiology at the Medical School of the Greek Academy of Sciences, spoke to ERT, saying that it is one of the diseases we are fully protected from through childhood vaccination.

As he pointed out, vaccination is usually "recommended after the first year (the first dose) and after the second year the second dose, providing 100% protection for our whole life."

Magiorkinis emphasised that those who are vaccinated will not catch measles. However, as he said, in Greece there are populations that have not completed vaccination, and for this reason, they are extremely exposed.

"More than 50% of the cases are observed in Roma populations. But what we must emphasise is that those who are vaccinated have absolutely nothing to fear from those who are unvaccinated," he noted.

With reference to all the adults who have not had both doses, he emphasised that all those who had measles have lifelong immunity.

"If someone has not taken the second dose, they can do it anytime. Even at 60 years old," the doctor said.

Asked how an adult can determine if he has been vaccinated, Majorkinis said they can do an antibody test.

Commenting on the increase in the rate of infections recorded by the World Health Organization (WHO), he explained that large vaccination gaps arose after the fall of communist regimes.

"We see a big increase in Romania and Russia as well," Magiorkinis said, adding that in several Third World countries, the vaccination program has not been properly followed due to economic priorities.

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