West Yorkshire and Malawi launch measles vaccination drives amid rising cases

Health authorities in West Yorkshire, England, have begun a new campaign targeting children aged 12 months to 11 years who have missed doses of the measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine. Families will be contacted through GP practices, text, email, letters or the NHS App, after a recent increase in measles cases across the UK. Dr James Thomas, Medical Director of the NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, said, “Vaccination remains the best way to protect children from serious illnesses such as measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox.”

In Malawi, the Ministry of Health issued an urgent warning urging parents to vaccinate their children immediately as measles cases rise. Senior medical officer Matthew Mwale warned that missed vaccinations, supply gaps and population movement increase the risk of outbreaks, especially for under‑fives and malnourished children. The ministry stresses early signs—fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and rash—and advises that any child with symptoms be taken to a health facility. The response is supported by WHO and UNICEF, with disease trackers, labs and emergency vaccination teams deployed.

Both campaigns emphasize catching up missed doses to protect individual children and the wider community, including infants too young for vaccination and immunocompromised individuals.