India has launched a nationwide elimination campaign of measles and rubella by 2026. Both diseases are highly contagious but vaccine-preventable, and can cause severe illness or death in children.
India has missed the earlier targets of 2023, 2020 and 2015.
Union Health Minister JP Nadda launched the National Zero Measles-Rubella Elimination Campaign during World Immunisation Week. Nadda highlighted that 332 districts had reported zero measles cases and 487 districts zero rubella cases during January-March 2025.
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Calling it a ‘momentous occasion,’ Nadda said: “Today marks an opportunity to achieve 100 per cent immunisation coverage and provide high-quality lifestyles to children by administering them with the two doses of measles and rubella vaccine. This disease is highly contagious and hampers not only childrenās lives but also causes misery to their parents.”
The government defines elimination of measles and rubella as the absence of endemic transmission in a defined geographical area for at least 12 months. This status must be sustained for 36 months and verified through a high-quality surveillance system.
Currently, two doses of the Measles-Rubella vaccine are provided for free to all eligible children, at 9 to 12 months and 16 to 24 months of age, under the Universal Immunisation Programme.
