Mexico Intensifies Vaccination Drive Amid Measles Outbreak

Mexico’s Ministry of Health confirmed this Tuesday that it has sufficient vaccine supplies and is requesting a short extension from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to control a measles outbreak, which has contributed to the loss of measles-free status across the Americas. Authorities are intensifying vaccination and surveillance efforts to contain the outbreak and prevent further transmission. “We have the sufficient number of vaccines for the next two years,” says David Kershenobich, Minister of Health, noting that Mexico joined the United States and Canada in asking PAHO to extend the containment period by two months before the Commission’s scheduled review on April 13, 2026. Measles, a highly contagious virus that spreads through respiratory droplets, had been eliminated in the Americas but has resurged due to gaps in vaccination coverage. The World Health Organization (WHO) and PAHO note that a single case can infect up to 18 people, and complications can include pneumonia, encephalitis, and death, particularly in children and immunocompromised individuals. In Mexico, the first confirmed cases of 2025 were reported in February, with the epicenter in Chihuahua. Nationwide, 5,299 accumulated cases were recorded as of Nov. 19, 2025. Children under five years old represent the largest affected group, with 1,355 cases, followed by adults aged 20–29. Transmission has also been documented in Jalisco, Guerrero, Michoacan, Mexico City, and the State of Mexico. Authorities define a probable case as any person presenting fever, maculopapular rash, and at least one symptom among cough, coryza, conjunctivitis, or lymphadenopathy, with confirmation through laboratory analysis or epidemiological linkage. PAHO’s Regional Monitoring and Re‑Verification Commission has scheduled a review of measles elimination status for Mexico and the United States on April 13, 2026. Endemic transmission is defined as uninterrupted virus circulation of the same genotype for at least 12 months. Loss of measles-free status in the Americas follows a 30-fold increase in confirmed cases across ten countries, with roughly 95% of cases concentrated in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The Mexican government has deployed 23.5 million measles vaccine doses nationwide. Campaigns include routine MMR vaccinations for children, MR doses for adolescents and adults who are unvaccinated, and “dose zero” for infants aged 6–11 months. Over 11.8 million vaccinations have been administered since the outbreak began, with eligibility expanded to school staff, healthcare workers, seasonal agricultural laborers, and residents in high-risk areas. House-to-house visits, mobile brigades, and vaccination perimeters covering 25-city-block zones around confirmed cases have been established. Mexico City intensified efforts after confirming five new cases, expanding vaccination access in Alvaro Obregon and Cuajimalpa boroughs and coordinating with the State of Mexico. The Ministry of Health operates a hotline to guide residents to vaccination centers, emphasizing community outreach, surveillance, and the importance of completing the recommended two-dose schedule. “We must restore the use of existing vaccines to prevent resurgences of diseases we previously thought were under control, like measles,” says Rodrigo Romero, Coordinator, Mexican Association of Vaccinology. Globally, measles cases surged to an estimated 11 million infections in 2024, despite historic reductions since 2000 that saved nearly 59 million lives. The Americas had reduced cases from 116,365 in 2019 to 2,320 in 2024, with measles deaths essentially at zero, achieving re-verification of elimination. However, first-dose vaccination coverage in 2024 was only 88%, below the 95% threshold required for sustained elimination, leaving pockets of under-vaccinated communities vulnerable to outbreaks. PAHO and WHO stress that maintaining consistent coverage of at least 95% with two doses is essential to halt transmission and preserve elimination status. Similar temporary losses occurred in Venezuela (2018) and Brazil (2019) but were reversed through coordinated vaccination and surveillance campaigns. The measles outbreak occurs against the backdrop of Mexico’s broader preventive health strategy. Under the National Health Council for Well-being (CONASABI), authorities emphasize prevention, vaccination, disease surveillance, and health promotion. The government is strengthening local epidemiological capacity, laboratory infrastructure, and cross-border coordination. The Pandemic Fund has issued US$25 million in support of the modernization of epidemiological information systems, diagnostic capacity, and laboratory networks. This approach complements other preventive initiatives, such as the 2025 HPV vaccination campaign in the State of Mexico, which extended coverage to boys and at-risk populations. Over 960,000 HPV doses were administered nationwide, with public health campaigns emphasizing equity, cancer prevention, and early detection. Vaccine hesitancy continues to affect immunization coverage. Catherine Russell, Executive Director, UNICEF, stresses that “millions of children remain without protection against preventable diseases, and that should worry us all.” WHO and PAHO have reaffirmed the safety of vaccines, including those containing thiomersal and aluminum adjuvants, which do not cause autism spectrum disorders. Declining global health funding further threatens progress. The Gates Foundation’s Goalkeepers 2025 report projects the first increase in under-five mortality in decades, linking underfunding and under-vaccination to preventable child deaths. Strategic investments in primary health care and immunizations remain critical. Mexico seeks PAHO’s extension to ensure uninterrupted vaccination campaigns, aiming to reach at least 95% coverage and interrupt transmission. Authorities are coordinating with local governments, international partners, and community organizations to expand outreach, monitor high-risk areas, and maintain epidemiological surveillance. Experts cited agree that sustained political commitment, regional cooperation, and evidence-based public health strategies are essential to regain measles elimination status and protect children from preventable diseases. Kershenobich says that the current efforts, combined with technical assistance from PAHO, will be sufficient if vaccination targets are achieved and maintained. Mexico’s coordinated response illustrates the importance of vaccination, surveillance, and preventive health policies in controlling outbreaks. The extension requested from PAHO provides additional time to strengthen these measures, close immunization gaps, and protect public health. Lessons from this outbreak highlight the fragility of prior gains and the need for continued investment, monitoring, and public engagement to prevent the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases.