Mexico is launching a large-scale vaccination campaign against measles, a highly contagious disease that public health officials are working to prevent from causing outbreaks. The initiative, spearheaded by the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS), will utilize a widespread network of healthcare facilities and public spaces this weekend, and , to administer doses rapidly.
The campaign, dubbed “Juntos, vacunados, le pintamos la raya al sarampión” (Together, vaccinated, we draw a line against measles), aims to protect the population through intensified vaccination efforts. According to IMSS Director Zoé Robledo, the operation is structured around two primary target groups.
The first priority is vaccinating children aged to across the country, ensuring they receive either their first dose or a booster shot. The second priority focuses on adults aged to years in states identified as high-risk areas. This includes individuals who are unvaccinated, have not completed their vaccination schedule, or do not recall their vaccination status.
To maximize accessibility, the IMSS will operate vaccination sites from to continuously throughout both days. These locations will extend beyond traditional healthcare settings to include hospitals, family medicine units, social security centers, sports facilities, and designated public spaces clearly marked with official IMSS signage.
The decision to utilize existing infrastructure, such as the Estadio Olímpico Universitario – which successfully administered 240,000 doses of various vaccines (including measles) during a five-day campaign in – demonstrates a proven model for mass vaccination. This approach builds on the success of previous initiatives and leverages public trust in institutions like the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).
This intensified effort comes as Mexico has confirmed more than measles cases and deaths since early . Federal health authorities have reported an accelerated national vaccination strategy, expanded vaccine supply, and strengthened epidemiological surveillance to contain transmission. Currently, million doses are immediately available, in addition to the doses administered in and to date.
Robledo emphasized that the vaccine is free, safe, and universally accessible, meaning individuals do not need to be IMSS beneficiaries to receive it. The government has launched a website, dondemevacuno.salud.gob.mx, to help citizens locate the nearest vaccination site. This interactive map provides up-to-date information from IMSS, IMSS-Bienestar, ISSSTE, and state health departments.
Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis (brain swelling), and even death. Vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent the spread of this disease and protect vulnerable populations. The current campaign represents a significant step in bolstering immunity and mitigating the risk of outbreaks across Mexico.
