Tajikistan starts a campaign to vaccinate 836,000 young children against measles and rubella

Tajikistan has started a two-week campaign to vaccinate about 836,000 young children against measles and rubella, UNICEF Tajikistan said on 26 October. The campaign, run by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population, covers children aged 6 months to 5 years in 53 cities and districts from 26 October to 6 November.

Closing immunity gaps

The aim is to reach children who missed vaccines and close gaps in population immunity before measles spreads further. UNICEF procured the measles-rubella vaccine: 863,500 doses, of which 820,000 were financed by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and 43,500 by the government.

570 confirmed cases this year

From January to August 2026, Tajikistan confirmed 570 measles cases, an incidence of 51.92 per million people. Children under five made up 80% of cases, and infants under one accounted for half. A quarter of confirmed cases were hospitalized; no measles deaths were reported.

Coverage has slipped below the level needed to stop outbreaks. WHO and UNICEF estimates for 2025 put coverage at 80% for the first dose of measles-containing vaccine and 79% for the second, according to the release.

What it means for families now

Parents of children aged 6 months to 5 years in Tajikistan can have them vaccinated during the campaign period through the health services taking part. The vaccine protects against both measles and rubella. Vaccines are also getting cheaper elsewhere; this week Gavi and UNICEF cut the price of the RTS,S malaria vaccine by about 40%.