KATHMANDU: The government has launched a month-long ‘Search and Immunize’ campaign in Baisakh to ensure vaccination coverage for children who have missed routine immunization.
According to the Immunization and Child Health Section under the Department of Health Services, the campaign targets children under the age of five who have not received their scheduled vaccines.
Under the initiative, children below five years who missed vaccines scheduled at 15 months will be administered nine types of vaccines protecting against 13 diseases.
The government had earlier collected data on children who missed vaccinations during the months of Mangsir and Poush to support the campaign rollout.
Despite progress in immunization coverage, officials say gaps remain. Around 90 percent of children in Nepal have received full doses of vaccines, while 10 percent have not completed their immunization schedule. About one percent of children have not received any vaccines at all.
The government provides routine immunization from birth until the age of five to protect children from preventable diseases, disabilities, and death.
According to the World Health Organization, the impact of vaccination programs has significantly reduced child mortality in Nepal. The under-five mortality rate declined from 118 per 1,000 live births in 1996 to 26.5 per 1,000 live births in 2023.
The ministry said the campaign was also prompted by rising numbers of unvaccinated children in some districts, which has contributed to outbreaks of measles and rubella.
Authorities aim to close immunization gaps and prevent further spread of vaccine-preventable diseases through the nationwide drive.
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