The Mexican government has launched the first 'National Vaccination Week 2025' aimed at vaccinating nearly 2 million people to address outbreaks of preventable diseases such as measles and whooping cough. To date, around 1400 cases of both diseases have been reported in the country.
The Secretary of Health, David Kershenobich, stated that the goal is to vaccinate 1.8 million people during this week and ensure that every individual needing protection receives vaccinations in a timely and free manner.
As part of the campaign, the 14 vaccines available in the basic immunization schedule will be administered throughout Mexico to control diseases such as measles, rubella, whooping cough, hepatitis B, and human papillomavirus (HPV), among others.
According to the latest bulletin of 'Epidemiological Situation of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in Mexico,' 583 cases of measles have been confirmed, including one death, and 809 cases of whooping cough, with 48 fatalities, in the first 16 weeks of the year.
The PAHO warned about the increase of vaccine-preventable diseases in the Americas, with a total of 2,313 cases of measles reported in six countries, as well as three deaths. In this context, Vaccination Week in the Americas plans to administer approximately 66 million doses of vaccines, including 2.7 million against measles.
Vaccines are essential to prevent diseases and save lives, according to PAHO. The COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico has caused a delay in the vaccination of children, with only 27.5% of one-year-old babies completing their vaccination schedule in 2021, according to AMIIF.
