An MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) Supplementary Immunisation Activity (SIA) commenced yesterday, January 6 at all immunisation clinic centres in nine high-risk health districts. The program which is conducted by the Ministry of Health with the support of UNICEF and the World Health Organization targets children between 6-9 months in the Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Galle, Matara, Kandy, Jaffna, Kurunegala and Kalmunai districts where the highest number of measles cases have been reported. The second phase of this program will be implemented from January 20 targeting children of other age groups across the country.
In 2019, Sri Lanka was declared a measles-free country by the World Health Organization. However, due to the significant drop in global immunisation coverage during the Covid-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2022, over 700 measles’ cases were reported from the country since May 2023.
Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Palitha Mahipala said that Sri Lanka is the only country that has achieved 99.9 percent immunisation coverage and expressed confidence that through the implementation of this additional immunisation program, the number of measles cases will decrease.
