A special program to administer measles vaccinations to infants aged between 6 and 9 months will be held focusing on nine selected districts experiencing the highest concentration of cases.
According to the Health Ministry, the vaccination drive is scheduled to take place on Saturday, January 6, 2024, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
The selected districts include Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Galle, Matara, Kandy, Jaffna, Kurunegala, and Kalmunai.
In an effort to further contain the outbreak, health officials are planning to extend the program to include individuals between 9 and 15 months of age who may have missed their initial measles vaccination. The vaccinations will be available at the nearest clinics.
Measles has resurfaced in Sri Lanka, despite the country being recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2019 for successfully eradicating the highly contagious disease.
Health Ministry Secretary Dr Palitha Mahipala said the global decline in immunization coverage, exacerbated by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, has opened the door for the resurgence of measles cases worldwide.
