Nationwide Measles-Rubella Campaign targets 95% herd immunity in children
LINEO MALATALIANA
MASERU – Lesotho is gearing up for a critical nationwide Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign targeting children aged 9 months to 5 years from October 22 to 26, with mop-up activities scheduled for October 27 to 29.
The campaign, spearheaded by the Ministry of Health’s Expanded Programme for Immunisation (EPI), aims to protect nearly a million vulnerable children and achieve vital herd immunity against these highly contagious and potentially deadly diseases.
Herd immunity requires vaccinating at least 95 percent of the target population. “The failure to vaccinate and vaccination failure are the two main pathways to an outbreak,” emphasized Dr Francis Abobo, EPI Consultant at the World Health Organisation (WHO), during a recent media training hosted by the ministry.
“Initiatives like this represent a necessary investment, a financial burden the ministry must bear to safeguard public health.”
The urgency is underscored by Lesotho’s history. A major Measles outbreak in 2009, primarily affecting children aged 6 to 15 and centred in Maseru with 561 reported cases, strained the health system and demanded an emergency response. Globally, Measles remains a leading cause of preventable death among young children; WHO estimates 107 500 deaths in 2023, with over 95 percent occurring in children under five.
“Vaccines are one of humanity’s greatest achievements,” stated the WHO. Over the past 50 years, vaccines have saved approximately 154 million lives worldwide. For Measles-Rubella specifically, two doses are crucial. “After the first dose, 10 to 15 percent of infants do not develop immunity. The second dose ensures 95 percent of those infants develop protective immunity,” Dr Abobo explained, citing WHO data.
Lesotho has integrated the two-dose MR vaccine into its routine under-five immunisation schedule since 2017. Demonstrating resilience, the country maintained high under-five vaccination coverage above 80 percent in 7 out of 10 districts during 2021 and 2022, despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. During Africa Vaccination Week 2023, over 20 000 Lesotho children aged 9 to 59 months received MR vaccinations.
Beyond preventing immediate suffering and death, mass immunisation is a cornerstone of economic stability.
“Immunisation and the good health of children are vital tools in working towards a healthy future workforce, essential for economic production and sustainability,” the Ministry highlighted. Healthy children mean parents and caregivers miss less work, and the nation secures a healthier, more productive population.
This campaign aligns with the continent-wide focus on Primary Health Care and immunization, championed through initiatives like Africa Vaccination Week. The Ministry of Health is mobilizing all resources to reach every eligible child, proving that “Immunisation for all is humanly possible.”
