Measles immunization campaign in Pakistan

The American Red Cross has announced the imminent completion for a nationwide measles immunization campaign in Pakistan, reaching 34 million children in the Punjab province, including the capital, Islamabad. The government of Pakistan, in partnership with the Measles Initiative, expects to complete its year-long program on April 3.

The Initiative is a partnership which aims to reduce deaths from the disease worldwide and was launched in 2001. The leading members of the group are: the United Nations Foundation; the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); the American Red Cross; UNICEF and the World Health Organization. Between them, the partners provide technical and financial support to governments and communities on immunization campaigns in several countries. The program is also backed by the US medical technology firm Becton, Dickinson.

Major success for vaccine since 2000