Phnom Penh: Cambodia launched on Thursday the nationwide measles-rubella (MR) vaccination campaign to protect over 1.5 million children under five years old. The campaign is a critical step towards strengthening health security, preventing potential outbreaks, and achieving Cambodia’s goal of becoming measles-free, said a joint press release.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the campaign is led by the Ministry of Health and supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI). Minister of Health H.E. Prof. Chheang Ra encouraged all health staff and partners to work together to ensure full coverage of the target population and protect all children in the country from the two diseases.

“Health personnel have done a good job during previous immunisation campaigns, and I am sure that during this campaign too, health staff will do everything they can to reach all children, especially those living in high-risk and hard-to-reach
areas,” H.E. Prof. Chheang Ra said.

The press release highlighted that Cambodia’s 2023 national coverage for the first and second doses of the MR vaccine was 79 percent and 64 percent, respectively. These figures remain below the levels needed to prevent outbreaks and avert deaths. The MR vaccine, which is safe, effective, and available free of charge at all health centers, will be administered to all children in the target age group, including those who have previously received a measles or MR vaccine.

All children aged 9 to 59 months, including those who have previously received a measles or MR vaccine, are encouraged to receive a dose to boost community immunity, the press release pointed out.