Kinshasa— The Democratic Republic of the Congo today launched a nationwide vaccination campaign aiming to protect around 62 million children aged 6 months to 14 years against measles and rubella, ahead of introducing the combined vaccine into the national immunization schedule. The single measles vaccine will be replaced by the combined measles-rubella (MR) vaccine in routine immunization, while the catch-up campaign will help close immunity gaps among children and adolescents for both diseases.

A phased approach will be used for MR introduction and catch-up campaigns, organized by blocks of provinces. The first block of seven provinces—Haut-Katanga, Haut-Lomami, Lualaba, Tanganyika, Bas-Uele, Haut-Uele, and Ituri—will conduct the campaign from 27 November to 1 December 2025. The switch from the single measles vaccine to MR vaccines is supported by several partners, including Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Gates Foundation, the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), working together to ensure no child is left behind in efforts to eliminate these two highly contagious diseases.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has reported repeated measles outbreaks, highlighting the urgency of this initiative. More than 7 million children under five years of age are currently at risk. In addition to closing immunity gaps caused by low routine coverage and repeated outbreaks, introducing the MR vaccine will also help reduce the burden of Congenital Rubella Syndrome and is expected to put the country on track toward measles and rubella elimination.

“I want to commend our health workers and partners for their commitment to protecting our children. This campaign marks a decisive step toward eliminating measles and rubella in our country. Vaccines are safe, effective, and save lives. I call on every parent and community leader to join us in ensuring that no child is left behind,” said Dr Roger Kamba, Minister of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Security.

Health workers will deliver vaccines through fixed posts and outreach sites, ensuring that even children in hard-to-reach and conflict-affected areas are covered. Community mobilization, engagement of civil society, and strong communication efforts will counter misinformation and encourage parents to vaccinate their children.

“The introduction of the measles-rubella vaccine is an important step for child health and moves us further forward in our collective efforts to ensure that no child suffers or dies from these preventable diseases,” said Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has faced significant challenges in routine immunization and disease control, with coverage for key antigens still below global targets, leaving millions of children vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases. The introduction of the combined measles-rubella vaccine represents a critical opportunity to reduce the number of vulnerable children and protect communities against two highly contagious and deadly diseases.