Mexico City is launching a large-scale measles vaccination campaign in response to a rise in confirmed cases, highlighting the ongoing global challenge of preventing outbreaks of this highly contagious disease. City officials, led by Clara Brugada Molina, initiated the effort in Chapultepec Park on Monday, February 9, 2026, announcing an unprecedented territorial operation to contain the virus’s spread.
As of Friday, February 6, 2026, Mexico City has confirmed 166 measles cases, representing an incidence rate of 1.79 per 100,000 inhabitants. “This allows us to act with opportunity and responsibility,” Brugada Molina stated, emphasizing that vaccination remains the most effective tool for preventing outbreaks and protecting the population, particularly in a highly mobile city like the capital.
The operation will involve 1,500 vaccinators organized into 500 teams comprised of personnel from IMSS Bienestar, IMSS, Issste, the local Secretary of Health, the University of Health, and federal forces. Half of these teams will operate at fixed locations, while the remainder will conduct door-to-door outreach, beginning in the Cuauhtémoc, Álvaro Obregón, and Gustavo A. Madero boroughs.
To maximize accessibility, authorities will maintain 300 open health centers for vaccinations. 21 vaccination points with extended hours – from 9:00 a.m. To 11:00 p.m. – will be established in prominent locations across all 16 boroughs. Fifty modules will be set up in high-traffic areas such as the Zócalo, Alameda Central, and public markets, and 100 points will be located within the public transportation system, including Metro, Metrobús, RTP, and Transportes Eléctricos stations. Vaccination brigades will too be deployed in upper and higher education schools, bus terminals, and the Central de Abasto wholesale market.
Nadine Gasman Zylbermann, the capital’s Secretary of Health, noted that 81% of confirmed cases involve individuals who were not vaccinated. She also reported that over 909,000 measles vaccine doses have been administered in the city since 2025. “The vaccine is free, safe, and accessible,” she reiterated, urging residents to review their vaccination records, especially those under 49 years of age.
David Kershenobich Stalnikowitz, Secretary of Health for the Mexican government, urged individuals between six months and 49 years of age to receive at least one dose of the vaccine, even if they do not recall their previous vaccination schedule. He also recommended wearing masks when experiencing respiratory symptoms to prevent transmission. The update underscores ongoing public health challenges related to vaccine-preventable diseases.
