The application of the so-called “zero dose” against measles now allows babies from six months of age to be vaccinated, as an extraordinary measure in the face of the outbreak that affects the country, the Ministry of Health reported this Friday, April 17.
Pediatrician María Mercedes Saravia, a specialist in the subject, explained that this strategy was authorized by the Ministry of Health and is aimed at children between 6 and 11 months, who, under normal conditions, have not yet started the regular immunization schedule.
“We have authorized the zero dose to give babies from six months to 11 months and to be able to give them this protection,” said Saravia.
The pediatrician clarified that this dose does not replace the usual vaccination schedule, which includes a first application at 12 months and a booster at 18, but rather works as early protection to reduce the risk of contagion at this vulnerable stage.
He explained that it is the same vaccine, but it is classified as “zero dose” because it is not part of the regular scheme, but rather a response strategy for the outbreak.
According to the specialist, the measure seeks to reduce serious complications in younger children, taking into account that measles is a highly contagious disease that can spread easily, especially in contexts of active transmission.
The Ministry of Health confirmed last Wednesday the death of four babies due to the measles outbreak. Two of the most recent cases correspond to girls aged 2 and 8 months, in Quiché and Totonicapán, who join two other children aged 10 and 11 months, registered in Guatemala and Quiché.
Health authorities indicated that none of the infants were old enough to have completed the triple viral vaccination schedule, which in the country is applied from 12 months.
Clinical reports link the deaths with serious complications such as pneumonia, congenital heart disease and respiratory distress.
Since the beginning of the emergency, on December 3, 2025, the national laboratory of the Ministry of Health has confirmed 4,709 positive cases, including patient zero.
The epidemiological analysis reveals that, although babies are the most vulnerable, 65% of infections are concentrated in adults between 15 and 39 years old, who act as the main source of transmission due to immunization gaps accumulated over years.
The outbreak originated after a massive religious retreat in Santiago Atitlán, Sololá, last December, attended by more than two thousand people. Among them was “patient zero,” a Salvadoran citizen.
Currently, Guatemala is going through the “peak of the outbreak”, considered the most critical moment due to the high volume of daily cases.
In this scenario, specialists recommend that parents review the vaccination cards of their children and the rest of the household, and go to health services if they do not have the complete schedule or have doubts.
The Ministry of Health maintains the health alert active and reinforces the lockdown vaccination days to stop the transmission of the virus, while insisting that immunization continues to be the most effective tool to prevent the disease and its complications.
With information from EFE
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