Centre launches drive against measles, rubella
Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Thursday launched the National Zero Measles-Rubella Elimination campaign 2025-26, marking a significant step towards India's goal of eliminating measles and rubella by 2026.
During the launch, Nadda highlighted that 332 districts had reported zero measles cases and 487 districts zero rubella cases during January-March 2025.
“Today is a momentous occasion as the launch of measles-rubella elimination campaign 2025-26 marks an opportunity to achieve 100 per cent immunisation coverage to provide high quality lifestyle to children by administering them with the two doses of measles and rubella vaccine. This disease is of a highly contagious nature that hampers not only children’s life, but also causes misery to their parents,” Nadda said.
The minister said the elimination of measles and rubella should be targeted in the same way as polio and maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination was achieved.
Measles and rubella are highly infectious viral diseases that can lead to serious illnesses, lifelong complications, and even death. Due to their high infection rate, India has set a goal to eliminate these diseases by 2026. Currently, India's measles-rubella vaccination coverage stands at 93.7 per cent for the first dose and 92.2 per cent for the second dose.
