In response to the ongoing imported measles outbreak and a decline in vaccination rates exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Sri Lanka's Health Ministry's Epidemiology Unit is implementing a Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) Catch-up Immunization Programme. Scheduled for January 20 and 21, the initiative targets children aged 9 months to 15 years who missed routine MMR vaccinations.
Since May 2023, Sri Lanka has been contending with a measles outbreak, primarily affecting vaccine refusal communities and partially vaccinated individuals aged 9 months to 3 years. The nationwide catch-up program, launched on January 6, aims to bridge the immunization gap and curb the spread of measles by providing missed doses to the identified age group.
Parents are urged to ensure their children participate in the catch-up initiative by visiting routine immunization clinics within their respective Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas. The program seeks to fortify the nation's defenses against measles and safeguard the health of the younger population.
