Marking the commencement of World Immunization Week (April 24-30), Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare virtually launched the National Zero Measles-Rubella (MR) Elimination Campaign 2025-26. This initiative signifies a crucial step towards India’s ambitious goal of eliminating Measles and Rubella by 2026. A press release on the launch was issued on April 24, 2025
During the launch, the minister released multi-language MR IEC (Information, Education, and Communication) materials, including posters, radio jingles, and films on MR elimination and the U-WIN platform, to bolster awareness campaigns across the country. These materials were also shared with all States and Union Territories for adaptation and implementation during the campaign.
“Today is a momentous occasion as the launch of the Measles-Rubella elimination campaign 2025-26 marks an opportunity to achieve 100% immunization coverage,” stated Shri Nadda, emphasizing the importance of administering two doses of the MR vaccine to ensure a high-quality lifestyle for children. He highlighted the contagious nature of these diseases and their devastating impact on families, stressing that “not even a single child is left behind.”
He urged the states and UTs to maintain active surveillance through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and to adopt an “ACT NOW” policy, aiming to replicate the success of polio and maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination.
To ensure widespread public awareness and participation, he called upon State Ministers and Chief Medical Officers to conduct public and press meetings. He also advocated for the inclusive involvement of MLAs, MPs, local and Panchayat heads. Frontline workers were urged to reach out to remote areas, slums, migratory populations, and regions prone to outbreaks, ensuring “100% coverage” by reaching “people in the last mile.”
Measles and Rubella, highly contagious viral diseases, can lead to severe complications and even death. India has set a target to eliminate these diseases by 2026, leveraging the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), which provides two free doses of the MR vaccine to eligible children at 9-12 months and 16-24 months.
India has achieved significant progress, with current MR vaccination coverage at 93.7% for the first dose and 92.2% for the second dose (2024-25 HMIS data). In 2024, India recorded a remarkable 73% decline in measles cases and a 17% reduction in rubella cases compared to 2023.
India’s elimination plan includes:
- Achieving and maintaining >95% vaccination coverage with two doses of MR vaccine in each district.
- Sustaining a sensitive and timely case-based surveillance system.
- Ensuring preparedness and timely response to outbreaks.
- Strengthening support and linkages to achieve strategic objectives.
- Focused mass awareness campaigns to address vaccine hesitancy and increase coverage.
India’s efforts have been recognized with the Measles and Rubella Champion Award in 2024.
The UIP, the world’s largest vaccination program, reaches millions of pregnant women and children annually, providing protection against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases. The U-WIN digital platform is extensively used for vaccination recording, certification, and appointment booking.
India has successfully reduced under-5 mortality rates through the UIP, introducing six new vaccines since 2014, including the MR vaccine.
