Measles vaccination campaign planned in Afghanistan

In an online meeting with representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), UNICEF, and other vaccination partners, the Afghan Ministry of Public Health has announced the implementation of a nationwide measles vaccination campaign, scheduled to commence next year and to be conducted throughout the country. The World Health Organization has highlighted an increase in measles cases in Afghanistan, with the number of cases this year exceeding those recorded in the previous year. The WHO reported that, as of the start of 2024, a total of 36,618 measles cases have been registered in Afghanistan, with at least 160 deaths recorded throughout the year. It is a recurrent theme amongst humanitarian organisations that the absence of access to healthcare services for Afghan citizens, particularly in rural areas, represents a significant cause for concern. In any case, the Afghan Ministry of Public Health has revealed that the requisite financial resources for the forthcoming year’s measles vaccination campaign have been obtained.