(November 22, 2024, Monrovia, Liberia)—the Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Health in collaboration with its partners, is set to officially launch a nationwide measles vaccination campaign to combat the ongoing measles outbreak. The vaccination campaign will run from November 25 to December 1, 2024, targeting approximately 743,806 eligible children aged 9 months to 5 years across all fifteen counties. This initiative marks a crucial step toward eliminating measles in Liberia and ensuring all children are protected from this preventable disease. The vaccine will be administered free of charge as a single dose injection on the upper left arm of children. Parents are encouraged to take their children to vaccination sites at clinics, hospitals, and special vaccination posts, including at schools, religious centers (churches, mosques, etc.) & markets, etc. The vaccination teams will not be doing house-to-house visits. All vaccines given to children will be recorded on the vaccination card, and the card will be given to the parent/caregiver.

To ensure the success of the campaign, the Ministry and its partners have engaged in extensive preparations, including having advocacy meetings and strategic discussions with key stakeholders, completing the distribution of materials throughout the fifteen counties, and setting up accessible vaccination sites nationwide to reach all eligible children. The Minister of Health, Dr. Louise M. Kpoto expressed her gratitude to donor partners and stakeholders for their continuous cooperation and support. She emphasized the importance of measles vaccination, stating, “eradicating measles is not just a victory for our children’s health but a milestone for Liberia’s public health system.” Dr. Kpoto also called on parents, caregivers, religious leaders, and all Liberians to join the fight against measles.