Govt launches National Zero Measles-Rubella Elimination campaign

The Government of India launched the 2025-26 National Zero Measles Rubella Elimination Campaign on 24 April 2025 to achieve 100 % immunisation coverage. The campaign was launched on the first day of World Immunisation Week, observed from 24-30 April 2025.

The government of India has set a target to eliminate Measles and Rubella in the country by 2026.

The campaign has been launched in partnership with the state government and other health partners.

Who launched the National Zero Measles Rubella Elimination Campaign?

The 2025-26 National Zero Measles Rubella Elimination Campaign was launched by the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Jagat Prakash Nadda, in New Delhi on 24 April 2025.

Achievements of India in the elimination of  Measles and Rubella

• According to the Union Health Minister, during January-March 2025, 332 districts in the country reported zero measles cases, and 487 districts reported zero rubella cases.
• The effort of the Ministry has been recognised by the world community. The ministry was honoured with the 2024 Prestigious Measles and Rubella Champion Award by the Measles and Rubella Partnership.

About the Measles Rubella Elimination Campaign

• The Measles Rubella Campaign refers to the mass vaccination campaign organised to vaccinate all eligible children aged 9-12 months and 16-24 months. 
• They are administered two doses of the Measles-Rubella vaccine free of cost.
• According to the government of India, the Measles-Rubella vaccination coverage in the country was 93.7% for the first dose and 92.2% for the second dose.

About Measles and Rubella Disease 

Measles Disease 

• Measles is a highly infectious airborne disease caused by a virus.
• The disease can infect anyone, but it is more common in children.
• It spreads from an infected person when that person breathes, coughs or sneezes. 
• Measles infects the respiratory tract of humans.
• Measles can cause severe disease and can even cause death, especially amongst children.
• It can easily be prevented through vaccination.

Rubella Disease

• Like measles, rubella is also a highly infectious airborne disease caused by a virus.
• If a mother is infected with rubella in her early pregnancy, then there is a high chance that the fetus in the embryo will be affected. It can result in miscarriage, fetal death in the form of spontaneous abortions and stillbirth. The child can be born with serious congenital anomalies like congenital cataract, glaucoma, cardiac defects, deafness, mental disability, etc.
• It is fully preventable through vaccination.

Universal Immunisation Programme 

The immunisation programme was launched in India in 1978. 

• It was renamed the Universal Immunisation Programme in 1985 and was expanded nationwide.
• It is 100% funded by the Government of India.
• Under the programme, pregnant women and newly born children are administered vaccines free of cost,

At present, vaccination is provided against 12 diseases: Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, Rubella, the severe form of Childhood Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, Haemophilus Influenzae type B (Hib), Pneumococcal, and Diarrhoea due to Rotavirus, and Japanese Encephalitis (only in endemic districts).