A vaccination campaign against measles and rubella has been launched in Malawi, targeting at least 5.8 million children aged nine months to nine years. The campaign, which started on Monday, aims to close existing immunity gaps and protect children from the preventable illnesses. According to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, the country recorded 376 measles-rubella cases between January and August this year.
The vaccination campaign is being carried out at various health centres and outreach sites across the country, including Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital's walk-in vaccination centre and St Vincent Health Centre in Chazunda. Healthcare workers are administering the vaccines to children, while volunteers are inviting parents to bring their children for vaccination. The campaign is expected to end on Tuesday.
The Ministry of Health and Sanitation reports that about 85 percent of children in the country receive the first dose of measles-rubella vaccine as part of early childhood immunisation, but the figure drops to 68 percent by the second shot. This vaccine uptake falls below the 95 percentage minimum required to avert measles-rubella outbreaks, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
WHO country representative Dr Charles Kuria Njuguna says measles remains a global challenge, with about 11 million cases that claimed 95 000 deaths in 2024. In the WHO Africa Region, 2.6 million patients and 33 000 deaths were reported across 47 countries. He emphasised that measles remains a serious public health threat that demands sustained, collective action.
Disease control and surveillance assistants, including Alice Chisaka and Francis Aufi, are playing a crucial role in the vaccination campaign. They are administering vaccines to children and encouraging parents to bring their children for vaccination. Aufi expressed excitement about parents' willingness to present their children to be vaccinated.
Minister of Health and Sanitation Madalitso Baloyi launched the nationwide initiative in Blantyre last Friday, emphasising the importance of closing existing immunity gaps. The campaign is a significant step towards protecting children from measles and rubella, and the ministry is working to ensure that every child is vaccinated.
Parents, such as Meria Joseph, are bringing their children to vaccination centres to protect them from the deadly disease. Joseph heard about the vaccination campaign from church and brought her son to be vaccinated. The campaign has been well-received by parents, who are eager to protect their children from measles and rubella.
Key points
- The campaign aims to vaccinate 5.8 million children aged nine months to nine years.
- Measles and rubella claimed 95 000 lives globally in 2024, according to the WHO.
- Malawi recorded 376 measles-rubella cases between January and August this year.
