The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the National Expanded Programme on Immunization (NEPI) in Afghanistan, has successfully concluded the first phase of a nationwide measles vaccination campaign. With support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, approximately 8.9 million children aged 6 months to 10 years were reached across 17 cold climate provinces.

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases and a leading cause of vaccine-preventable deaths among children. In Afghanistan, where access to routine immunization is limited and many children face challenges like malnutrition, measles can lead to serious health complications, including pneumonia, blindness and even death.

In 2024, over 9300 measles cases were reported. By August 2025, another 8500 cases had been reported. The number of outbreaks also increased, rising from 127 in 2023 to 430 in 2024. Nearly 92% of cases were in children under 10 years of age. Prior to the nationwide vaccination campaign, only 55% of children had received their first dose of the measles vaccine, and just 44% had received a second dose. These gaps in coverage left many children unprotected, allowing the disease to spread.

Afghanistan is committed to eliminating measles. Vaccination efforts and high immunization coverage are vital to achieve this goal, protect communities and prevent future outbreaks, both locally and across borders.