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Monrovia, Liberia – In the Kessely Boulevard community, Shedrick Barlee, a 36-year-old father, clutches his one-year-old son, Blessed Barlee, as a healthcare worker prepares to administer the measles vaccine. . Since 2021 Liberia has been battling an outbreak of measles due largely to interruption of routine immunization on account of the COVID-19 pandemic. At total of 13,334 cases and 95 deaths were recorded by Liberia’s national public health institute. To control the outbreak and protect more lives, the Ministry of health with support of WHO, UNICEF, GAVI and Rotary Liberia implemented a seven-day national measles campaign from 25th November to 2nd December 2024 targeting all eligible children from the age group 9-59 months.
“When I heard about the campaign, I knew I had to bring my son to get the vaccine. As a father, I wanted to protect him from the illness and allow him to have a healthy future,” Shedrick said, holding his son close. “I’m grateful to the Ministry of Health for providing this vaccine to our children. Now that my son is protected, I feel relieved that he will not get sick. I will always do my best to keep him healthy,” he added.
Across the 15 counties of Liberia, parents like Shedrick took their young children to protect them from measles. Over the 7-day immunization campaign, a total of 781,124 children were vaccinated, exceeding the initial target of 779,789. The preliminary data from the field shows that 14 out of the 15 counties exceeded the 95% vaccination target, with 92 out of the 98 participating districts achieving the 95% target or higher.
“This vaccination campaign is crucial since we have experienced several measles outbreaks over the past years. To ensure its success, we worked closely with the Ministry of Education, community, and religious leaders to sensitize and educate parents about the measles vaccine. In addition to fixed vaccination sites, we put in place mobile teams visiting schools, markets, churches, and mosques to ensure no child is left behind.” said Dr. Jewel T. Kollie, Monrovia County Health Officer. “Our strong team at the county level, in collaboration with WHO and UNICEF, has also been instrumental in the planning and execution of these immunization activities.” she added.
WHO played a pivotal role in the successful implementation of the measles vaccination campaign by providing essential technical and financial support. WHO coordinated the implementation of activities at both the national and county levels through its field and national teams. To ensure effective supervision, WHO also supported the county health teams by providing fuel for their vehicles and motorcycles. Additionally, WHO facilitated the efficient transportation of the measles vaccines to southern counties via air transport and provided vehicles for the movement of vaccines and related materials within the 15 counties of Liberia.
“WHO is committed to supporting Liberia in its efforts to eliminate measles,” said Roland Tuopileyi, WHO Liberia EPI Officer. “By providing these essential resources and technical expertise, we aim to protect the health and well-being of all Liberian children.” To assess the effectiveness of this campaign, WHO will also recruit an international consultant to conduct a post-campaign survey.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory illness spread by a virus, and can lead to serious complications and deaths, especially among young, malnourished children. Community-wide vaccination is the most effective and safe way to prevent the disease.
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