KATHMANDU: The government is launching an immunization campaign from February 25 to March 20 across the country in view of the risk of measles and rubella infection.

Spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population, Dr Prakash Budhathoki, shared that the vaccination against measles and rubella is going to be launched for all children below 15 years.

He mentioned that all children from nine months to below 15 years of 24 districts–21 districts bordering with India and three in Kathmandu Valley, would be immunized.

Similarly, children from nine months to five years of other 51 districts would also participate in the vaccination campaign.

Budhathoki added that however, the immunization campaign was launched in Jajarkot and Rukum West districts after Jajarkot earthquake occurred in November 2023.

Chief of Child Health and Immunization Section, Dr Abhiyan Gautam, said children who missed to get regular vaccines would also be immunized in course of vaccination campaign.

Sharing that all preparations for the immunization campaign have been completed, he added that health workers have already been imparted with training about the vaccine in all seven provinces.

Dr Gautam shared that 6.330 million doses of vaccines have already been brought for the campaign, stating that a target has been set to immunize vaccine against measles and rubella to around 5.7 million children during the campaign.

The government has launched the immunization campaign with an objective of eliminating measles and rubella by 2026.

Outbreak of measles and rubella was reported in 19 districts last year.