MR Campaign

Strong routine immunization systems are critical foundations for achieving and sustaining high levels of population immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases. The “Reaching Every District” (RED) strategy with focus on planning and monitoring has been implemented to build capacity and expand the provision of immunization services. However, certain individuals or population groups continue to remain susceptible, either because they are missed by routine immunization programmes or because of primary vaccination failures.

Supplementary immunization activities (SIAs), also referred to as mass-immunization campaigns, are effective strategy for delivering vaccination to children otherwise missed by routine services (e.g. the hard to reach and underserved groups and communities) or to older susceptible individuals who are not among the age groups targeted by the routine EPI services. As such, SIAs are a proven strategy for increasing vaccination equity. SIAs also have the effect of rapidly increasing population immunity by reducing the number of susceptible individuals in the population, which can result in protective “herd” immunity.

SIAs provide opportunities for strengthening vaccination services through building national capacity, reducing inequity of service delivery, advocating for routine immunization, improving immunization practices and providing further public health benefits through integration of other public health interventions. Strengthening routine immunization Programmes is in turn critical for sustaining gains made through the SIA.

Countries WHO South-East Asia Region have conducted MR SIA regularly to vaccinate children whoa re otherwise missed during routine immunization. A list of  SIAs conducted by countries in the region is given below. 

Measles and Rubella Vaccination Campaigns in WHO South East Asia Region, 2000-2020