Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known to humans and the only way to prevent the disease is through vaccination. An estimated 242 000 people, the majority of them children, died from measles in 2006. The failure to deliver at least one dose of measles vaccine to all infants remains the primary reason for high measles mortality.

It costs less than US $1 to immunize a child against measles, making it one of the most cost-effective public health interventions. Investing in the goal to reduce global measles deaths by 90% between 2000-10 also strengthens national immunization programs, improves health systems in the long-term and significantly contributes to achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goal Four to reduce under-five mortality by two thirds by 2015.

The Measles Initiative, launched in 2001, has invested about US $430 million in measles control activities and this investment has saved up to 2.3 million lives. A strategy to reduce measles mortality, which includes vaccinating all children against measles before their first birthday via routine health services and providing a second opportunity for measles vaccination through mass campaigns, has been key to ensuring the 68% reduction in global measles deaths…