KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 21
The government is launching an immunization campaign from February 25 to March 20 across the country in view of the risk of measles and rubella infection. Dr. Prakash Budhathoki, the spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population, shared that vaccination against measles and rubella will be initiated for all children below 15 years.
He mentioned that all children from nine months to below 15 years in 24 districts-21 districts bordering with India and three in the Kathmandu Valley-will be immunized.
Similarly, children from nine months to five years in the other 51 districts will also participate in the vaccination campaign. Budhathoki added that the immunization campaign was launched in Jajarkot and Rukum West districts after the Jajarkot earthquake occurred in November 2023.
Dr. Abhiyan Gautam, Chief of Child Health and Immunization Section, stated that children who missed regular vaccines will also be immunized during the vaccination campaign. He shared that all preparations for the immunization campaign have been completed, and health workers have already received training about the vaccine in all seven provinces.
Dr. Gautam further mentioned that 6.330 million doses of vaccines have already been procured for the campaign, with a target set to immunize around 5.7 million children against measles and rubella during the campaign.
The government has launched the immunization campaign with the objective of eliminating measles and rubella by 2026. Outbreaks of measles and rubella were reported in 19 districts last year.
