KATHMANDU: Commencing today, a nationwide vaccination campaign against measles-rubella aims to immunize approximately 5.7 million children between nine months to 15 years of age.

Scheduled to run until March 20, the campaign will encompass 24 districts, including 21 highly affected areas along the Indian border and three districts within the Kathmandu Valley.

Additionally, children aged nine months to five years across the remaining 53 districts will also receive vaccinations. Schools and designated vaccination centers will facilitate the immunization drive from 10 am to 4 pm daily.

Dr. Abhiyan Gautam, Chief of the Child Health and Immunization Section at the Department of Health Services, stated that approximately 2.1 million children aged nine months to five years and 3.6 million children aged five to 15 years will be targeted for vaccination.

To support this extensive campaign, a total of 48,798 vaccination centers have been established nationwide.

Furthermore, 49,937 health workers and 59,906 volunteers have been mobilized to ensure the smooth execution of the campaign.

The overarching goal of this initiative is to eliminate measles-rubella by the year 2026, underscoring the nation’s commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of its children.