Uttarakhand Aims to Eliminate Measles & Rubella by 2026: State Task Force Meeting Charts Strategic Vaccination Plan
A key State Task Force meeting was held under the leadership of NHM Director Swati S. Bhadauria to strengthen measles and rubella elimination efforts in Uttarakhand, with special vaccination weeks to begin from July 2025.
In a decisive step toward eradicating highly infectious diseases like measles and rubella, a crucial State Task Force meeting was convened today at the National Health Mission (NHM) auditorium in Uttarakhand. The session was presided over by Swati S. Bhadauria, Mission Director of NHM Uttarakhand, and focused on aligning strategies to achieve measles-rubella elimination in the state by 2026.
The meeting brought together Chief Medical Officers and District Immunisation Officers from all districts to assess ongoing preparations and to strengthen field-level execution. Bhadauria emphasized the state government’s unwavering commitment to reaching the elimination goal on time, citing the importance of both disease surveillance and community engagement.
A comprehensive action plan was reviewed, with key strategies laid out for immediate and sustained implementation.
Key points of discussion included:
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Strengthening VPD Surveillance: Active identification of cases, laboratory confirmation, and timely reporting are to be enforced through the Vaccine Preventable Disease (VPD) surveillance mechanism.
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Rapid Outbreak Response: Protocols are being revised to ensure swift, effective medical intervention during measles or rubella outbreaks in any part of the state.
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Digital Monitoring via UWIN: The vaccination sessions will be closely tracked and analyzed through the UWIN portal, a digital platform facilitating real-time data monitoring, ensuring no child is missed.
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Public Awareness Campaigns: The Task Force stressed the need for mass awareness campaigns to educate communities on the critical importance of childhood immunisation against measles and rubella.
Highlighting the urgency of this mission, Bhadauria reiterated that measles and rubella primarily threaten children, leading to serious complications such as pneumonia, meningitis, blindness, and in severe cases, death. She also noted the risks to pregnant women, including fetal abnormalities and miscarriages. With these public health stakes in mind, the state has committed to achieving 95% or higher vaccination coverage—a crucial threshold for developing community immunity.
To accelerate progress, special MR (Measles-Rubella) vaccination weeks will be held across Uttarakhand starting July 2025, running for three consecutive months. These sessions will be digitally monitored, and if any are skipped or disrupted, an investigation and follow-up action will be promptly initiated.
The Mission Director issued clear directives to all district-level officers to ensure timely organisation of vaccination sessions, proactive community engagement, and rigorous data reporting. Regular reviews at the district level will be critical in closing the coverage gaps and moving steadily toward a measles-rubella free Uttarakhand.
With strong digital tools, dedicated leadership, and field-level commitment, the state is poised to make significant strides toward protecting its children and achieving a major public health milestone
