The Ministry of Health's press center has announced the start of the second stage of the campaign for additional immunization in response to a measles outbreak in the Jalal-Abad region. The vaccination will be carried out using the measles-rubella vaccine, with 264,500 doses procured from the republican budget.
The campaign aims to reach at least 95% of children in the target group, which includes all children aged 9 months to 7 years, except those who have already received the second dose of the measles vaccine during routine or catch-up immunization. Vaccination is available free of charge at healthcare centers, polyclinics, and temporary vaccination points in educational institutions.
In other regions, catch-up immunization against measles and rubella has been intensified as part of the routine measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination. Additional immunization in response to the measles outbreak in the remaining regions will commence as more doses of the measles-rubella vaccine become available.
Healthcare professionals emphasize that measles is a dangerous and highly contagious viral disease, and vaccination is the only way to protect children from it.
Since the beginning of the year, Kyrgyzstan has recorded 5,446 cases of measles. In 2023, there have been 7,046 confirmed cases of measles, including 9 fatalities: 8 children aged 1 to 18 years and 1 infant (five months old).
The campaign for additional immunization started in September 2023 in Bishkek, Osh, Chui, and Osh regions, with 479,386 children vaccinated in the first stage, reaching 79% of the target group.
