Progress Toward Measles Elimination — Pakistan, 2000–2018

The Impact of Religious and Cultural Beliefs Towards Immunization in Pakistan

“…34 The first measles-containing vaccine (MCV1) dose had a nationwide coverage of 76% in 2017, well below the recommended level of 95%. 35 During the measles outbreak of 2012, vaccination teams in rural areas of Sindh faced much resistance from parents. According to a news report by The Express Tribune, the villagers were adherents of Hindu beliefs which declare that a goddess had entered the affected children and medicine would offend her.…”

The elimination of measles in Iran

“…Similar mass catch-up measles immunisation campaigns have been done in countries around the world, but in smaller populations or with a lower vaccination coverage. [2][3][4][5][6][7] Much like the Pan American Health Organization's measles elimination vaccination strategy, Iran's national campaign consisted of three phases. 8 The first phase, also known as the catch-up phase, began on Dec 6, 2003, and was targeted at those aged from 5 years to 25 years.…”

Achieving “Health for All by All” in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

“…Health indicators are still a matter of concern in our Region, with maternal mortality in Afghanistan and Somalia among the highest worldwide (5), and yet despite the obstacles there has been significant progress. Pakistan has vaccinated an unprecedented 37 million children against measles; Bahrain and Oman have been declared measles and rubella free; and Yemen has been declared free of lymphatic filariasis (6)(7)(8). Nevertheless, the current challenges (social / environmental) facing the Region have enabled the re-emergence of some communicable diseases, such as the largest outbreak of cholera witnessed in Yemen (9), coupled with widely prevalent malnutrition, together form major causes of morbidity and mortality (10).…”