The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has begun administering the measles-rubella (MR) vaccine to healthcare workers and children under the age of 18 who have not completed the recommended vaccination dose.

The first phase of the programme will run until 30 June and is being carried out at the Urban Primary Health Care Centre (UPHCC), Hulhumalé Hospital, Senahiya Hospital and Vilimalé Hospital in the Greater Malé Region. HPA said service hours for vaccination centres in the atolls will be announced separately by the respective centres.

The second phase of the programme is scheduled to begin on 30 June and will target people under the age of 30 who have not received two doses of the MR vaccine. The final phase will cover individuals under the age of 49 who have not been fully vaccinated.

A total of 22 measles cases have been reported in the Maldives so far this year. As part of the ongoing response, 220 contacts of confirmed cases and 1,537 frontline healthcare workers have already been vaccinated. Earlier this month, India donated 20,000 doses of the MR vaccine to support efforts to contain the recent increase in measles cases and strengthen public health preparedness.