New Delhi, July 22 || Amid resurgence of measles outbreak in the US and Canada, India has seen a surge in vaccine coverage for the highly contagious disease, Anupriya Patel, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, said in the Parliament during the ongoing Monsoon Session on Tuesday.
In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Patel informed that the measles vaccine is provided free of cost across the country, including in vulnerable regions, under the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP).
“As per Health Management Information System (HMIS) (2024-25), the coverage of Measles containing Vaccine 1st dose (MCV-1) & 2nd dose (MCV-2) stands at 97.8 per cent and 93.3 per cent respectively,” the MoS said.
India aims to eliminate measles and rubella by 2026. Data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) noted 4,388 cases of measles and 527 cases of rubella this year in India.
Globally, measles is on the rise across the US, Canada, Mexico, South America, and parts of Europe. In 2025, North and South America saw 11 times more cases than during the same period last year. In Europe, measles rates are at their highest point in 25 years.
Meanwhile, Patel also informed the Upper House about the government's “considerable achievements in eliminating and controlling” major vector-borne infectious diseases like Japanese Encephalitis, dengue, and malaria.