On March 16th, India celebrates National Immunization Day (NID), highlighting the vital role of full vaccination in protecting children from vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs). This focus on immunization is particularly timely as India builds on its remarkable public health achievement of polio eradication in 2014. Now, the country is taking proactive steps to eliminate another major public health threat: measles.
The measles virus stands as one of the most highly contagious human viruses worldwide, claiming the lives of over 100,000 children annually on a global scale. Measles, a respiratory illness, also remains a significant threat to children in India, particularly those in vulnerable communities. The disease can lead to complications like pneumonia, encephalitis (brain swelling), and even death. However, recognizing the urgency of addressing this preventable disease, India is drawing valuable lessons from its polio eradication program to tackle this challenge.
