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
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...
16 June 2017
Measles vaccines: WHO position paper – April 2017
The papers are reviewed by external experts and WHO staff, and are reviewed and endorsed by the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on immunization...
30 June 2016
Planning and implementing high-quality supplementary immunization activities for injectable vaccines...
This is a field guide that is intended for immunization programme managers and their partners. The focus of this guide is ensuring...
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