A chance to catch up: how Kyrgyzstan is fighting measles
In 2025 Kyrgyzstan continues its fight against a nationwide outbreak of measles – one of the most contagious yet entirely preventable infectious diseases. Despite ongoing efforts by the health system, the country still faces a high number of missed vaccinations.
According to official data from Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Health, the country has seen a significant and steady rise in measles cases, population incidence rates and measles-associated hospitalizations since 2023.
Ministry of Health figures show that 7463 measles cases were registered in 2023. This rose to 14 380 cases in 2024. As of 10 June 2025, 7985 cases had already been registered.
How Kyrgyzstan is fighting measles
Based on data provided by the Republican Center for Immunoprophylaxis (RCI) under the Ministry of Health, the primary reasons for parents not vaccinating their children at all, or not according to the national schedule, are religious beliefs (45%), concerns over vaccine safety (41%), other reasons (10%) and lack of information about the benefits of immunization (4%).
These figures highlight the urgent need for building sustained and comprehensive awareness through outreach efforts nationwide.
In response to the high number of measles cases, the RCI, together with WHO in Kyrgyzstan and other partners, intensified its vaccination efforts in spring 2024 with support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
In May 2025 a nationwide “Big Catch-Up” campaign was launched to vaccinate zero-dose and under-vaccinated children.
Activities within the campaign include training health workers across the country, procuring vaccines and enhancing monitoring of routine vaccinations among children.
This campaign complements efforts initiated in spring 2024, when the Jalal-Abad Region was the epicentre of the expanding outbreak, with the highest measles incidence in the country.
In response, the Ministry of Health, in cooperation with the Jalal-Abad city administration, WHO and other partners, supported a supplemental immunization outreach campaign. For several weeks, health workers, local authorities and partners worked tirelessly, setting up mobile vaccination points, engaging with parents and reaching remote communities where children had missed their vaccinations.
The Ministry of Health, RCI, WHO and partners have continued to support such efforts.
The goal is not only to halt the current measles outbreak but also to prevent future ones. The recent surge in measles cases reminds us: immunization is a shared responsibility, and preventing outbreaks of measles and other diseases is entirely within our power.
This photo story is supported within the scope of a 4-year project (2022–2026) jointly funded by the European Union and WHO to strengthen health systems and advance universal health coverage in central Asia.
It documents the immunization campaign begun in Jalal-Abad, capturing not only the scale of the challenge but also the courage and determination of the health workers and community members who have come together to protect their children.
Through these campaigns, we are reminded that each vaccine dose is more than just a shot in the arm – it’s an expression of trust and a step towards a safe, shared future.