Urgent measles-rubella vaccine push targets millions of children

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In response to a growing measles threat, Uganda is preparing for one of its most important public health campaigns in recent years.

From Thursday, October 1 to Monday, October 5, the Ministry of Health will roll out a nationwide Measles-Rubella immunisation campaign targeting millions of children across the country.

Announced in a press statement issued at the Uganda Media Centre on April 30, the campaign aims to vaccinate all children aged between nine months and five years, regardless of whether they have been vaccinated before.

“The campaign aims to vaccinate all children aged 9 to 59 months across the country, including those in refugee communities,” Dr Charles Olaro, the Director General of Health Services, said in the statement.

The decision reflects the reality that too many children remain unprotected.

Even those who have received one dose of the vaccine may not have enough immunity. By vaccinating every eligible child, the government hopes to close existing gaps and rebuild what health experts call “herd immunity,” the level of protection needed to stop the virus from spreading.

The campaign will be integrated into the Integrated Child Health Days (ICHDs), a strategy designed to reach as many children as possible in a short period.

Vaccination will be free and widely accessible.

Services will be offered at health facilities, schools, outreach centres and mobile clinics, extending into communities that are often hardest to reach. The goal is to reach every child, regardless of the distance, cost, or lack of awareness.

“All eligible children will be vaccinated, regardless of their previous vaccination status, to boost immunity and close existing gaps,” Dr Olaro emphasised.

Beyond the immediate goal of immunisation, the campaign also intends to strengthen Uganda’s broader health system. Officials say it will improve disease surveillance, enhance early detection of outbreaks, and reinforce routine immunisation services. It will also help identify and address missed children, those who, for various reasons, have slipped through the cracks.

The success will depend on more than logistics because public participation will be critical too.

“We call upon all parents and caregivers to ensure that every child aged 9 to 59 months is brought for vaccination during the campaign period,” the statement said.

The ministry is also urging religious leaders, cultural leaders, community organisations and partners to mobilise communities and counter misinformation.

That call reflects a deeper challenge in public health that vaccines only work when people trust and use them.

The measles-rubella vaccine is widely regarded as safe and highly effective. Protection begins within two weeks of vaccination, and two doses provide strong, lasting immunity.

“Every child under five years old should receive two doses of the Measles-Rubella vaccine at 9 months and again at 18 months of age to achieve full protection,” the statement noted.

For many families, the campaign will be a second chance, an opportunity to catch up on missed vaccinations and protect children against a disease that remains both preventable and dangerous.