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To help stop the spread of the measles virus in Kyrgyzstan, the country received 755 500 doses of measles and rubella vaccine from the Measles and Rubella Partnership. As a result of this donation, Kyrgyzstan’s Republican Center for Immunoprophylaxis started implementing a 2-week supplementary immunization campaign on 18 September 2023 in the cities of Bishkek and Osh, and surrounding regions. The vaccines will be administered at 750 temporary vaccination points set up at medical facilities and educational settings. In addition, 60 mobile teams will conduct on-site vaccination for children living in hard-to-reach settlements.
Since the beginning of this year, over 1500 people in Kyrgyzstan have been infected with the measles virus, about two-thirds of whom are young children aged 0–4 years. In response to the outbreak, Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Health (MoH), with the support of WHO and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), submitted an emergency country application for procurement of vaccines to the outbreak response fund established under the Measles and Rubella Partnership. The arrival and handover of the vaccine doses was attended by representatives of the MoH, WHO, UNICEF and the Red Crescent Society of Kyrgyzstan.
Outbreak response
Measles is a dangerous and highly contagious viral disease for which there is no cure, and which can only be prevented through vaccination. Anyone who is not vaccinated and has not had the disease is at risk of infection. Young children are especially vulnerable to complications of the disease, which can be fatal.
Children in Kyrgyzstan are offered 2 doses of measles-containing vaccine as part of the routine immunization schedule and in line with WHO recommendations. To ensure all young children in the targeted areas are fully protected and to prevent further spread of the virus, children from 9 months to 7 years of age will be immunized with the measles and rubella vaccine as part of the outbreak response supplemental immunization campaign.
To support the campaign and strengthen surveillance, the MoH is organizing social mobilization groups among medical workers to communicate the importance of vaccination to parents. In addition, with the cooperation of the Ministry of Education, health workers are ensured access to all educational preschools and schools within the outbreak area to vaccinate children.