Breaking the News: WHO removes Nepal from endgame list of rubella. This makes Nepal the sixth country in WHO South-East Asia Region to become free from the contagious viral disease that causes brain damage in children, deafness, and in some cases leads to miscarriage in pregnant women.
Why Elimination Matters
Rubella is especially dangerous for pregnant women, who may miscarry or deliver a child who suffers lifelong severe birth defects, known as congenital rubella syndrome. Its eradication saves the next generation from thes avoidable handicaps.
A 12-Year Journey of Vaccination
Type of Epidemic and Background Nepal embarked on the path to elimination in 2012 by introducing the rubella vaccine as part of a large-scale national campaign focused on children ages 9 months to 15 years. These efforts in the country were supported by:
- Introducing a second dose into the routine immunization schedule in 2016.
- Leading 4 national vaccination campaigns (in 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024).
- This sustained work, including in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters, resulted in more than 95% vaccination coverage by 2024.
Innovative Strategies for Success
Nepal implemented innovative public health measures that led to a high coverage, such as:
- Declaring an ‘Immunization Month’ to increase efforts.
- Introducing focused outreach efforts targeting hard to reach children.
- Encouraging districts to reach ‘fully immunized’ status.
Robust Surveillance was Key
Key to success was a strengthened surveillance system and a complex laboratory testing algorithm. It also enabled health officials to closely monitor and rapidly react to possible cases—providing the hard data that the WHO needed to verify elimination.
Nepal’s success, with strong government leadership and partners such as WHO and Gavi, serves as a powerful example to other countries striving to defeat vaccine-preventable diseases.
Month: Current Affairs - August 20, 2025
Category: current affairs daily