Consequences of delayed measles vaccination in Germany

More than 50% of measles cases in 1-year-old children would be prevented if presently observed vaccine coverage rates in the third year of life could be achieved 12 months earlier. Delayed measles vaccination is responsible for a large number of measles cases still occurring in the German population, where measles has not yet been eliminated. If vaccination were delivered according to the recommended time schedule, the incidence of measles would be considerably reduced.