What We’re Reading: Children Missing Measles Shots; COVID-19 Booster Campaign Starts; Surgery Risks for Older Adults

40 Million Children Missing Measles Vaccinations

The CDC and the World Health Organization said a record of nearly 40 million children did not receive their measles vaccine last year. According to The Associated Press, the decline stems from the COVID-19 pandemic. The organizations said measles is “an imminent threat in every region of the world.”

White House Launches Booster Campaign

Vaccination and booster rates are lower than they should be but Biden health experts remain cautiously optimistic about a new COVID-19 booster campaign, according to Politico. The White House launched a 6-week campaign to encourage getting the booster shot for the holiday season, as respiratory illnesses like the flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19 are affecting the country. Both Anthony Fauci, MD, the retiring head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Ashish Jha, MD, coordinator of the White House’s COVID-19 response, said they are hopeful that RSV is peaking.

Older Adults Have Increased Risk of Death After Major Surgery

A new study found that 1 in 7 older adults died within a year of having a major surgery, according to KHN, with the highest risk among those with probable dementia, frailty, and having emergency surgeries. Age was also linked with worse outcomes, as patients who were aged 90 years and older were 6 times more likely to die compared with patients aged 65 to 69 years.