Yemen launches national emergency measles vaccination campaign

The Yemeni Ministry of Public Health and Population has launched a national emergency vaccination campaign targeting measles and rubella. The initiative aims to protect children aged six months to five years across multiple provinces, including Al Mahrah, Aden, Lahj, Abyan, and Shabwah.

In Al Mahrah, the campaign targets approximately 22,000 children using 144 health workers. In the Shuhur district, over 13,500 children are being reached, while the Loder district in Abyan aims to vaccinate more than 18,500 children. Nationally, the campaign seeks to reach nearly one million children across 11 governorates, with a specific focus on displaced persons' camps such as Al-Fardous in Aden and Musayrah in Lahj.

The six-day operation utilizes 5,000 health personnel operating through 2,200 centers, including 1,600 mobile teams. The campaign is supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, in response to a concerning rise in highly contagious measles cases.