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Coronavirus

UN agencies: 117 million children risk missing measles shots

Social distancing and other coronavirus measures pressure health services

A child receiving a measles vaccination in the Democratic Republic of Congo on March 3, 2020. The coronavirus pandemic has overwhelmed health service providers.   © Reuters

LONDON (Reuters) -- More than 117 million children could miss out on immunisation against measles as the COVID-19 pandemic forces social distancing and piles pressure on health services, United Nations health agencies warned on Tuesday.

Measles immunisation campaigns in 24 countries have already been delayed, and more will be postponed, potentially putting children in 37 countries at risk, according to the Measles & Rubella Initiative (M&RI), which is backed by the World Health Organization, the U.N. children's fund UNICEF and others.

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