Religious groups warned against vaccine misinformation as Uganda targets 7.5 million children

What the report says

Uganda has launched a five-day measles-rubella vaccination campaign aimed at about 7.5 million children, with Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi urging religious groups, parents and other community leaders to avoid spreading misinformation about vaccines. The launch took place on Thursday at Wakiso Health Centre IV, according to Nile Post.

The Ministry of Health says the campaign is designed to close gaps in childhood immunisation and reduce the risk of further measles and rubella outbreaks. It is targeting children aged nine months to five years, including those who may have received a measles-rubella vaccine before. Health workers and Village Health Teams are expected to use health facilities, community mobilisation and village-to-village outreach to reach families, especially in harder-to-access areas.

Baryomunsi told caregivers that the vaccines used in the campaign are safe and effective and encouraged them to take eligible children to designated vaccination points between October 1 and October 5. The effort comes amid ongoing measles outbreaks in the country. The article says health authorities confirmed 66 separate measles outbreaks in 2025, underscoring why officials are pressing for higher vaccination coverage.

More broadly, Uganda’s campaign reflects a common public-health approach in countries dealing with measles resurgence: combining mass vaccination with community outreach to improve uptake. The report also highlights the government’s concern that unverified claims about immunisation can undermine these efforts.