Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals
The Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals department is responsible for targeting vaccine-preventable diseases, guiding immunization research and establishing immunization policy.
Measles
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. Despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine, measles remains an important cause of death among young children globally, and can also lead to serious adverse outcomes such as blindness, pneumonia and encephalitis.
Routine measles vaccination for children, combined with mass immunization campaigns in countries with low routine coverage, are key public health strategies to reduce global measles deaths. The overwhelming majority (more than 95%) of measles deaths occur in countries with low per capita incomes and weak health infrastructures.
The measles vaccine has been in use since the 1960s. It is safe, effective and inexpensive. WHO recommends immunization for all susceptible children and adults for whom measles vaccination is not contraindicated. Reaching all children with 2 doses of measles vaccine, either alone, or in a measles-rubella (MR), measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), or measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) combination, should be the standard for all national immunization programmes.
WHO position paper
WHO Position paper on measles vaccines - English and French (Updated April 2017)Including all accompanying materials
Publications
25 November 2022
Meeting of the Immunization and Vaccine-related Implementation Research Advisory Committee (IVIR-AC), September...
The IVIR-AC recommendations are based on technical discussions during a hybrid (in-person/virtual) meeting of the IVIR-AC, held on 12–14 September...
31 August 2022
Measles Outbreak Guide
The conclusions of the Global Measles and Rubella Strategic Plan 2012–2020 implementation midterm review highlighted the need to update protocols...
31 August 2022
Measles outbreaks strategic response plan: 2021–2023:
The Measles Outbreaks Strategic Response Plan 2021–2023 (MOSRP) supports the achievement of the strategic priorities of the post-2020 Measles and...
8 November 2020
Measles and rubella strategic framework: 2021-2030
Measles remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with an estimated 9.7 million cases and more than 140,000 measles-related...
27 March 2020
Guide for clinical case management and infection prevention and control during a measles outbreak
This document outlines practical clinical care interventions and infection prevention and control measures required to reduce the high levels of morbidity...
The main purpose of these documents - which are published as separate disease/vaccine-specific modules - is to give vaccination professionals e.g. EPI...
9 February 2018
The role of extended and whole genome sequencing for tracking transmission of measles and rubella viruses:...
The lack of an endemic genotype of measles and rubella is an essential criterion for verification of elimination of disease transmission.Molecular surveillance...
28 April 2017
Measles vaccines: WHO position paper – April 2017
This position paper incorporates the most recent developments in the field of measles and includes removal of introduction criteria for the routine second...
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