Health minister warns of more outbreaks after COVID-19 disrupted immunization rates
Zambia on Friday launched a measles vaccination campaign aimed at reaching four million children aged nine months to five years, following a drop in immunization coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Health Minister Elijah Muchima, speaking at the launch in the capital Lusaka, said the campaign will run from Sept. 23 to 28 across all 116 districts of the country.
“Immunization coverage rates fell during the pandemic,” Muchima said, noting that nearly half a million children missed their first measles vaccine dose and about 300,000 missed both the first and second doses between 2020 and 2023.
Warning of the risk of further outbreaks, Muchima highlighted that 4,412 suspected measles cases had already been reported this year, with three deaths.
Nathan Bakyaita, a representative of the World Health Organization, added that with support from GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, 5.32 million vaccine doses had been delivered to Zambia for the campaign at an estimated cost of $1.1 million.
