Measles Vaccination: Mobile Units Available This Weekend in Guadalajara & Jalisco
- Health officials in Jalisco, Mexico are intensifying efforts to control a growing measles outbreak, with infections reported in 39 of the state’s 125 municipalities as of February 6,...
- The outbreak has already prompted 15 primary schools to switch to remote learning, according to the Jalisco Ministry of Education (SEJ).
- In response, a coordinated vaccination campaign is underway, involving the Jalisco Ministry of Health (SSJ), Mexico’s Social Security Institute (IMSS), the Institute of Social Security and Services for...
Health officials in Jalisco, Mexico are intensifying efforts to control a growing measles outbreak, with infections reported in 39 of the state’s 125 municipalities as of . This follows a year in which Jalisco had the second-highest number of confirmed measles cases in the country, trailing only Chihuahua.
The outbreak has already prompted 15 primary schools to switch to remote learning, according to the Jalisco Ministry of Education (SEJ). Schools in Guadalajara, Zapopan, Tlajomulco, Tlaquepaque, and Tonalá were particularly affected by a surge in cases during January.
In response, a coordinated vaccination campaign is underway, involving the Jalisco Ministry of Health (SSJ), Mexico’s Social Security Institute (IMSS), the Institute of Social Security and Services for State Workers (ISSSTE), Civil Hospitals of Guadalajara, and municipal medical services. The campaign is utilizing a multi-pronged approach, including house-to-house brigades targeting areas with active cases, expansion of mass vaccination modules, and the establishment of vaccination points in high-traffic locations.
Expanded Vaccination Access Throughout the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area
To increase accessibility, temporary vaccination modules will be available this weekend in several locations across the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area (ZMG). In Guadalajara, modules will be located at Plaza de la Liberación and Plaza Universidad, outside the Tren Ligero stations, operating from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM on both Saturday and Sunday.
Residents of Zapopan can access vaccinations at Plaza La Perla, also from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday. An additional module will be available at Metrocan, located in Parque Metropolitano, on Sunday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
In Tlaquepaque, modules will be set up at the Presidencia (city hall) and the San Martin de las Flores Health Center, operating from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday. Tonalá will host modules at the Plaza Principal and Hospital Tonalá, operating from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Finally, in Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, modules will be located at Plaza Principal, Soriana Santa Fe, Multiplaza del Valle, and Plaza Regina, with varying hours throughout the weekend.
Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy and Strengthening Immunity
The vaccination campaign aims to ensure that all girls, boys, adolescents, and adults under 50 years of age have completed their vaccination schedule, bolstering collective immunity throughout the state. Health authorities are also confronting significant public hesitancy towards vaccination, despite the unprecedented vaccination offensive.
Currently, Jalisco has recorded 1,183 confirmed cases of measles and two associated deaths as of . The state health sector is deploying 40 mobile vaccination units to high-traffic areas, including public squares, shopping centers, government offices, and community spaces.
The Guadalajara initiative is being viewed as a potential model for other municipalities in Jalisco and across Mexico, demonstrating the effectiveness of proactive, community-based vaccination strategies. The expansion of vaccination efforts, particularly through decentralized locations and house-to-house brigades, is a key component of this approach.
As of mid-January, the vaccination campaign was distributing up to 12,000 doses daily. Health officials emphasize the importance of vaccination as the most effective means of preventing the spread of measles and protecting vulnerable populations.