The Kabul Tribune (KT) — The World Health Organization and the U.N. children’s agency said they have completed the first phase of a nationwide measles vaccination campaign in Afghanistan, reaching about 8.9 million children across 17 provinces.
The campaign, conducted in collaboration with Afghanistan’s
National Expanded Programme on Immunization and supported by Gavi, the Vaccine
Alliance, targeted children between 6 months and 10 years old in areas with
colder climates, the agencies said in a joint statement.
Measles remains one of the most contagious diseases and a
major cause of vaccine-preventable deaths among children. In Afghanistan,
limited access to routine immunization and widespread malnutrition have made
children especially vulnerable to complications such as pneumonia, blindness
and death.
Health officials reported more than 9,300 measles cases in
2024 and another 8,500 by August 2025. The number of outbreaks rose sharply,
from 127 in 2023 to 430 in 2024, with nearly 92% of cases occurring in children
under age 10. Before the vaccination drive, only 55% of children had received
their first measles shot and 44% had received the second, according to WHO.
“Measles is a deadly but preventable disease, and in a
country like Afghanistan, where too many children are vulnerable, vaccination
is a lifeline,” said Dr. Edwin Ceniza Salvador, WHO representative in
Afghanistan. “The successful completion of phase one marks a vital step in
protecting millions of children from illness, disability and death.”
UNICEF’s representative, Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale, said no child
in Afghanistan should die from a preventable disease. “Every outbreak reveals
where children have been left behind,” he said. “The success of the first phase
is an important step forward, but now our focus must turn to closing immunity
gaps and integrating this effort into routine immunization.”
The two-phase campaign aims to reach at least 95% of
children aged 6 months to 10 years, identify those missed in previous rounds
and strengthen routine immunization services for lasting protection.
WHO and UNICEF said they will continue working with national
health authorities to build on progress and prepare for the second phase of the
campaign, ensuring that no child is left unvaccinated.
