Mass measles vaccination considered

Mandatory measles vaccinations should be introduced if outbreaks of the disease cannot be contained, according to Swiss health authorities.

Extra effort was needed to reach target vaccination rates of 95 per cent of the population, the Conference of Cantonal Health Directors said on Monday.

The group vowed to work with the Federal Health Office to try to achieve target rates.

It recommended health authorities study and “seriously consider” mandatory vaccination if current methods did not stop the disease spreading.

The group says the spread of measles in the country has reached worrying levels and runs counter to World Health Organization (WHO) targets.

Last year Switzerland experienced its worst measles epidemic since mandatory reporting of the disease in 1999.

Cantons are responsible for outbreak control measures. The nature and intensity of the measures has varied between cantons.