Health Ministry moves up second measles shot as child vaccination delays are blamed on clinic shortages

Israel’s Health Ministry said Wednesday it will advance the second dose of the measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccine to age 18 months, instead of waiting until first grade. The change, which takes effect July 1 and applies to children born from 2025 onward, was announced at a professional conference where senior officials discussed the country’s falling childhood vaccination rates.

Prof. Sigal Sadetsky, head of public health at the ministry, said the main reason children are late getting vaccinated is not ideological refusal by parents, but logistics. “There is a problem of staff shortages, availability and accessibility of Tipat Halav clinics,” she said after her permanent appointment. She added that in places such as Bnei Brak, “if there are not enough appointments and they are working mothers, that is the significant reason for delays in vaccinations.” She also cited parental hesitancy, reduced public trust after the coronavirus pandemic, political influences, and children who are not registered in the system.

Sadetsky said the ministry wants Tipat Halav clinics to be open in the afternoons and on Fridays nationwide, and a special committee is examining separating vaccinations from developmental checkups. “I do not think the vaccination should be a lure for developmental tests,” she said. The ministry has also opened dedicated vaccination stations in the Negev and Beit Shemesh and is considering incentives to encourage vaccination.

At the same conference, officials presented updated figures on the measles outbreak: 17 deaths, 1,256 hospitalizations, and 3,754 confirmed cases so far, while the ministry estimates the true number of infections is about 10,000. Among hospitalized patients, 88% are unvaccinated, mostly children aged one to six. Despite the severity, Sadetsky said the outbreak appears to be declining. Dr. Esti Aronson, who heads routine vaccines in the epidemiology division, rejected claims that aluminum in vaccines causes autism, saying two large studies involving more than 1.2 million children found no link. Dr. Doron Dushnitsky, the association’s chair, said the conference content matched the daily needs of community pediatrics.