ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday launched a countrywide drive to vaccinate children against rubella and measles.
Over 34 million children from age six months to five years will be vaccinated during the campaign against measles and rubella, according to the National Emergency Operations Centre.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that causes fever, cough, runny nose, and a red rash, and can lead to serious complications in children.
Rubella, or German measles, is generally milder but poses a significant risk of severe birth defects if contracted during pregnancy.
According to the WHO, measles poses higher risks in poorer nations due to fragile health systems, but middle and high-income countries are also susceptible to outbreaks and fatalities.
It says that in 2025, Pakistan registered an incidence rate of 80 measles cases per million, which is four times higher than the WHO threshold for measles outbreaks to be classified as ‘large and disruptive’
A week-long polio vaccination campaign also began on Monday across 90 high-risk districts nationwide, aiming to administer anti-polio drops to more than 23 million children.
Throughout the campaign, vaccination teams will conduct door-to-door visits, while vaccines will also be available at government health facilities, schools, madrassas, and temporary vaccination centers.
The NEOC has urged parents to ensure their children receive the vaccine to protect them from this highly contagious disease.
