Measles spread continues amid vaccine shortage
Summary
Measles outbreaks continue in Baglung district amid a critical shortage of vaccines, delaying vaccination efforts and raising concerns about further spread. Health officials highlight gaps in outbreak response and call for increased funding and immediate vaccination drives to control the disease.
Key Points
- Measles outbreaks have been reported in Nisikhola and Badigad Rural Municipalities of Baglung district but vaccination drives have not started due to a vaccine shortage.
- There is no stock of measles vaccines available for outbreak response and no dedicated budget for purchasing such vaccines.
- Multiple measles outbreaks indicate low immunisation coverage and wide vaccination gaps in Nepal.
- The government aims to eliminate measles by 2026 but recent outbreaks hinder progress towards this goal.
