Measles elimination and rubella
control in the SEA Region- a brief
Update
12th Annual Meeting of the Measles Rubella
Initiative (MRI)
10-11 September, Washington DC
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Progress in immunization against Measles
and rubella, SEA Region, 2000 to 2012
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Coverage with 1st dose measles vaccine increased from 61% to 79%; 6
countries with 1st dose coverage >95%
10 countries introduced 2nd routine dose of measles vaccine
10 countries have conducted wide age-range measles supplemental
immunization campaigns; 8 have conducted follow-up measles immunization
campaigns
7 countries use rubella vaccination in combination with measles and or mumps
vaccine
Wide age range campaigns with Measles and rubella vaccine in Nepal in
2012; Bangladesh in 2013
India achievements in the past two years
 2nd routine dose of measles immunization in 21 States
 Campaigns in 14 States – 139 million children aged 6 months to 10 years
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Impact on measles burden
SEA Region, 2000 to 2012
• 55% decrease in measles cases
• 70% decline in measles deaths by 2011 in all Member
States except India (48% overall)
• 63% decline in measles incidence rate from 69.9 per
million population to 25.0 per million
• Bhutan, DPR Korea, Maldives and Sri Lanka may have
eliminated measles (and rubella in Sri Lanka)
• Improved knowledge of circulating measles and rubella
genotypes
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MCV1 Coverage for SEAR countries, 2008-2012
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Setting the stage for measles elimination and
rubella/CRS control in SEA Region
At the meeting of the SEA Regional Committee this week, a
resolution is being considered for adoption setting 2020 as the
target year for the elimination of measles and rubella/CRS control in
the WHO South-East Asia Region
A detailed strategic plan with costing is already developed
A measles surveillance workshop will be held from 23-27
September to strengthen country measles/rubella/CRS surveillance
in preparation towards the achievement of the goal of measles
elimination and rubella/CRS control in SEAR by 2020
A massive measles campaign, targeting more than 52 million 9
months to 15 years of age children is to start in Bangladesh from 2
November 2013
An integrated polio/measles surveillance started statewide for UP in
India, possibly the largest such surveillance activity
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Key challenges
• Securing and maintaining political commitment
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Success in polio; "Can do" spirit
 Regional Committee’s engagement
 Commitment to intensification of routine immunization
 Solidarity with other Regions
• Ensuring adequate funding (Approx. USD780 millions excluding
additional cost of increasing RI coverage >95%)
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National financing important
 External funding necessary
• Making available adequate vaccine supply
• Establishing case based surveillance for measles/rubella
• Applying the lessons learned from polio
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Reaching the unreached
• Large countries – herd immunity; scale of operations
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THANK YOU
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