On November, the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo launched the largest vaccination campaign in its history. In seven provinces, healthcare workers began administering the combined measles-rubella vaccine to children and adolescents aged six months to 14 years. The campaign aims to reach a total of 62 million people. The reason? Measles and rubella continue to trigger deadly outbreaks in the country, threatening more than 7 million of the youngest children. Vaccinations are being carried out at fixed, mobile, and outreach sites to reach even those in remote, conflict-affected regions [1][2][3].
How the New Vaccination Strategy Works in DRC
Introducing the combined vaccine marks the end of using a measles-only shot. Minister of Health, Dr Roger Kamba, calls this change a breakthrough in fighting infectious diseases. “Vaccines are safe, effective, and save lives. I urge parents and community leaders to ensure no one is left out,” he appeals. The first phase runs through December 1 and covers the provinces of Haut-Katanga, Haut-Lomami, Lualaba, Tanganyika, Bas-Uele, Haut-Uele, and Ituri.
Why the Campaign Is So Urgent
The scale of the threat is far from theoretical. In 2023, the country recorded over 300,000 measles cases and nearly 6,000 deaths. Routine immunization isn’t keeping up—coverage rates fall short of WHO targets, leaving millions of children vulnerable to preventable diseases. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Gates Foundation, UNICEF, and the US Centers for Disease Control have joined the fight against the epidemic. The campaign is divided into phases to better handle logistics in a country with vast distances and weak infrastructure [1][2][4].
The government is focusing not just on vaccine availability but also on fighting misinformation. Local teams are running information campaigns to persuade parents and caregivers to vaccinate their children. Dr Mohamed Janabi from WHO describes these efforts as “an important step for children’s health”. The combined vaccine is also expected to reduce cases of Congenital Rubella Syndrome and, in time, eliminate both diseases from the DRC [3][5][6].