Health 31 March 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Uganda Boosts Vaccination Efforts to Combat Measles Outbreak
The Ugandan government is ramping up routine and new vaccine rollouts through child health days and community outreach amid confirmed measles cases in multiple districts. Emergency measles-rubella vaccine procurement is underway, integrated with screening for other diseases under the CAST Plus programme. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/govt-scales-up-immunisation-drive-amid-measles-outbreak-5409644
The Government of Uganda has accelerated its immunisation initiatives across various districts in response to recent measles outbreaks. This effort focuses on routine vaccinations and newly introduced shots to protect vulnerable children.
Health authorities are deploying Integrated Child Health Days and broader community campaigns to address immunisation gaps. Joanita Nalwanga, a supervisor with the Uganda National Expanded Programme on Immunisation (UNEPI), stressed the need for swift action by district teams upon outbreak declarations.
Key vaccines in the drive include measles, rubella, HPV for girls aged 10, hepatitis B birth dose, and polio. Districts receive tools for self-assessment to enhance delivery and accountability.
In Agago District, emergency measures target mass vaccination of children aged 9 to 59 months, aiming for 95% coverage to halt transmission. Surveillance is active, with parents urged to watch for symptoms like fever, rash, red eyes, cough, and runny nose.
The campaign falls under the Child and Adolescent Survival and Transformation (CAST Plus) programme, combining immunisation with screenings for TB, HIV, malaria, hepatitis, hypertension, and diabetes. Goals include boosting TB detection by 15%, treating 95% of cases, and addressing 85% of malaria fevers.
Emergency procurement of measles-rubella vaccines supports these urgent activities to contain the outbreak and fortify routine immunisation.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)