Zahedan University of Medical Sciences

Report from: Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Vice Chancellery for Health
Published on: 13 August 2023

 According to WHO, while vaccination has drastically reduced global measles deaths, a 73% drop between 2000-2018 worldwide, measles is still common in many developing countries, particularly in parts of Africa and Asia.

In 2019, when the Eastern Mediterranean region was experiencing its greatest upsurge in measles cases, Iran received a certificate for measles elimination in October 2019.

The challenge for Iran is to maintain the interruption of measles transmission by sustaining high population immunity. Since the start of COVID-19 pandemic in December 2019, several countries across the world have lost their measles elimination status. Iran’s Ministry of Health has aimed to maintain the measles and rubella immunization coverage at more than 95%, which has been successfully sustained since 2003.

Every year, a few cases of people with measles are reported in rural and urban areas as localized outbreaks, with an average number of 10-20 measles cases in each outbreak. According to the MoHME, in 2022, 214 cases of infection with measles were reported in Iran, half of which were non-Iranians. This year, country has witnessed and increase in the number of measles cases, mostly in southeast of Iran.

In response to the measles outbreaks, Melase & Rubella Vaccination Campaign is being held from 12 August 2023 to 1 September 2023, aiming to increase the vaccination coverage for measles and rubella (MR) diseases among the under 5-years- old children.

The campaign, which will be continued for 3 weeks, aims to vaccinate all Iranian and Non-Iranian children 6 months to 12 months and to complete administration of 2 doses of MR vaccines for all children 1 year to 5 years of age.

According to Public Relations -Dr. Mehdi Zanganeh, Vice Chancellor for Health at Zahedan University of Medical Sciences at the inauguration ceremony of the MR Vaccination Campaign said: “Measles is a highly contagious disease that usually affects children and sensitive young people and usually has symptoms Such as fever, fatigue, cough, runny nose and conjunctivitis appear in people without immunity to the disease”.

Referring to the fact that in recent years the Islamic Republic of Iran has succeeded in receiving approval to eliminate measles and rubella, he added: According to this, the supplementary vaccination program against measles and rubella in children 6 months to 12 months of age will be carried out from today for three weeks."

He continued: "All families are requested to vaccinate their children under 5 years of age by attending comprehensive urban and rural health service centers and health post and health houses."

Copyright © 2023 Zahedan University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved. Date updated: 13/09/2023
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