By Wendy Mkandawire
The Ministry of Health and Sanitation has urged parents and guardians to get their children vaccinated against Measles-Rubella in order to close existing immunity gaps in Malawi.
Speaking during the launch of the Nationwide Measles-Rubella Supplementary Vaccination Campaign in Blantyre on Friday, 18 September, Minister of Health Madalitso Baloyi said it is very important for parents to get their children vaccinated, noting that the diseases are highly contagious and potentially life-threatening.
The campaign aims to protect more than 5.8 million children aged 9 months to 9 years and is being held under the theme: “Vaccines and Vitamin A Protect Your Child From Disease.”
She also emphasized that the supplementary campaign complements rather than replaces routine immunization, which remains the foundation for long-term protection against vaccine-preventable diseases.
Baloyi commended development partners including Gavi, Red Cross, UNICEF, AMREF, WHO, JSI/Jhpiego and Nutrition for the financial support they are rendering to the country.
In his remarks, World Health Organization Representative to Malawi, Dr. Charles Njuguna, said an estimated 11 million measles cases were reported globally in 2024, including 2.6 million in the WHO Africa region, resulting in 95,000 deaths globally.
He further said that while Malawi’s first-dose measles vaccination coverage stands at 88 percent, second-dose coverage remains at 68 percent, leaving some children vulnerable to infection.
Njuguna also highlighted Malawi’s progress in measles elimination, including the full accreditation of the Kamuzu Central Hospital laboratory for in-country testing.
The campaign comes amid Measles-Rubella outbreaks reported in several districts, with 376 confirmed cases recorded in August 2026.
