Just over one million children, aged between nine months and five years, will be covered by the measles and rubella vaccination campaign starting this Tuesday until Sunday in all the districts of the city and the provinces of Maputo and Gaza.

According to a publication in "Notícias", this is an initiative by the Ministry of Health (MISAU) and partners, which aims to reinforce the prevention of these highly contagious and lethal diseases if they are not treated in time.

The national director of the Expanded Vaccination Programme (PAV) at MISAU, Leonildo Nhampossa, said that this campaign completes the immunization cycle that began in 2023.

It should be noted that the provinces of Niassa, Cabo Delgado and Zambézia have recently recorded measles outbreaks that have resulted in just over 31 deaths, out of a total of 1191 reported cases.

"In 2023, we prioritized the central provinces, given the record of the measles outbreak. Last year, we covered Niassa, Cabo Delgado, Nampula and Inhambane and this time we're covering the rest," he said, quoted in the publication.

According to the source, 13,000 people are involved in this movement, including mobilizers, vaccinators and registrars.

The teams will be present not only in health facilities, but also in places where there is a high concentration of people, such as markets, bus stops and churches, among others.

The authorities are urging parents and guardians to take children under the age of six to vaccination posts, even if they have already been immunized against measles and rubella.

"This action will strengthen the child's immunity against the disease, which can only be prevented by vaccination," he said.

The consequences of measles infection in children include pneumonia, ear infections, acute encephalitis and even death.