Overview
- A 7-year-old boy from Jerusalem with an underlying condition who had received one measles dose died after arriving at the emergency room, marking the ninth fatality of the outbreak and the first involving any vaccination or underlying condition.
- Sixteen measles patients are hospitalized nationwide, with eight in intensive care, according to the Health Ministry as of Sunday evening.
- Authorities have designated outbreak zones that include Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh, Bnei Brak, Harish, Modi’in Illit, Nof Hagalil, Kiryat Gat, Ashdod, Tzfat, Netivot, the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council, and Tekoa.
- Guidance calls for routine MMR at ages 1 and 6, advancing the second dose to 1.5 years in affected areas, providing an additional dose for infants aged 6–11 months or for travelers to outbreak locations, and avoiding large gatherings for the unvaccinated and certain parents of young infants.
- Officials report sharp increases in vaccinations since September in Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh, with first-dose coverage rising in both cities, and shots available without appointments at Tipat Halav clinics, HMOs, and special centers in outbreak areas.