Uganda: Uganda Launches Five-Day Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign for Children

What the report says

Uganda has started a five-day measles-rubella vaccination campaign aimed at children aged nine months to five years, according to Nile Post’s report distributed by AllAfrica. The drive runs from October 1 to October 5 and comes after health officials said measles cases and deaths have been reported in several parts of the country.

The Ministry of Health is encouraging parents and guardians to bring eligible children to health centres and community vaccination points. Officials said the campaign is intended to close gaps in routine immunisation, especially the second measles dose, which is given at 18 months after the first at nine months. The ministry is also asking families to present children even if they have already received earlier measles vaccination.

Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi said children who have completed the routine two-dose schedule should still be taken for the campaign dose. The vaccine is being offered free of charge. The ministry says the aim is to strengthen protection, reduce transmission and help prevent further deaths among children.

More broadly, the campaign fits into Uganda’s wider childhood immunisation program, which the ministry says covers 14 diseases. Public health officials in many countries use short, targeted vaccination drives to raise coverage where routine uptake has fallen, especially during outbreaks or when follow-up doses are missed.