Check Your Child Has Both Measles Vaccine Doses in Pakistan, Free at Government Centres

Check your child's vaccination card for two measles-rubella (MR) doses. Pakistan's immunisation programme gives the vaccine free at government health facilities, and its helpline, Sehat Tahaffuz, is 1166. If a dose is missing, take the card to a government centre and ask.

Measles is a serious airborne disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) says it can cause blindness, brain swelling, pneumonia and severe diarrhoea, and that an estimated 95,000 people died from it in 2024, mostly children under five. The vaccine is the protection.

Two measles-rubella doses should be on the card

Pakistan's childhood schedule gives the measles-rubella vaccine in two doses, at 9 months and at 15 months, as we reported when we covered the free baby vaccination schedule. WHO says children need two doses for full protection. Its global advice is a first dose at 9 to 12 months and a second one later in childhood.

We could not open the schedule image on the immunisation directorate's site, so the ages come from our earlier reading of its pages. Treat them as reported. Your child's card, or the vaccinator, will give the exact dates for your child.

The Federal Directorate of Immunisation says the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) aims to protect children from birth to 15 months against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases. It also says the vaccines are free at government health facilities across the country. We read this on its website on 8 October 2026.

Check the card line by line

Open the vaccination card and find the lines for MR or measles. Look for a date and a stamp or initials next to both. A blank line means the dose was not recorded. It might have been given and not written down, or it might have been missed.

1. Find the vaccination card issued at your child's first visit.
2. Look for MR 1 and MR 2, or the lines marked measles.
3. Check that each has a date and a stamp.
4. If one is blank, take the card to a government centre.
5. Ask staff what your child needs, and do not guess the dates.

If the card is lost, do not stop there. The nearest EPI centre or lady health worker can tell you what your child needs. Many families lose cards. Staff see this every day.

Late is better than never

A child who missed a dose may still be able to catch up. We could not find the catch-up rules at source, so ask the programme what is right for your child's age. A health worker will tell you which dose is due, and whether anything else is overdue too.

We are not doctors, and we do not give medical advice. A child who is sick on the day may be told to come back. Staff will say so. The point is to ask early, not to wait until the next campaign.

Know the early signs, and what WHO says to do

WHO says measles starts 7 to 14 days after exposure with fever, cough, a runny nose and red eyes. A rash follows three to five days later. It begins on the face and spreads down the body over several days.

There is no specific cure. WHO says care focuses on easing symptoms and preventing dehydration, and that vitamin A is recommended for children under five. A doctor must decide that, not you. Do not give any medicine without a doctor's advice.

Measles spreads through the air when someone coughs or sneezes. If your child has a fever and rash, call the clinic first and say you suspect measles, so staff can keep your child away from other patients, especially babies. If your child is struggling to breathe or cannot drink, go to an emergency room. The breathing rate check for pneumonia signs in a child covers one of the complications to watch for.

Autumn is the season to fix gaps in the card

Crowded classrooms and winter gatherings are close. Fixing a gap now is easier than fixing it during an outbreak. Adults should also look at their own records. See the list of adult vaccines in Pakistan and the plan for the 2026 flu vaccine.

Polio drops are a separate programme with their own campaigns. The latest case numbers are in our report on the sixth polio case of 2026. A polio campaign visit is not a substitute for checking the measles lines on the card.

Common questions about measles vaccination in Pakistan

Is the measles vaccine free in Pakistan?

Yes, at government health facilities. The Federal Directorate of Immunisation says EPI vaccines are free of charge there. Private clinics may charge, so ask first.

How many measles doses does a child need?

Two. WHO says children need two doses for protection. Pakistan's schedule lists them at 9 and 15 months, as reported to us.

What if my child missed the second dose?

Take the card to a government centre and ask. Staff can tell you what is due for your child's age. Do not wait for a campaign.

What are the first signs of measles?

WHO lists fever, cough, a runny nose and red eyes, followed by a rash three to five days later. A doctor must confirm it.

Can I treat measles at home?

Do not treat it on your own. WHO says there is no specific cure and care focuses on easing symptoms and preventing dehydration. See a doctor, and ask about vitamin A for a child under five.

Who do I call for help?

The Sehat Tahaffuz helpline, 1166, is listed on the immunisation directorate's site. We have not tested the number.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

Last checked 8 October 2026. The measles symptoms, two-dose advice, complications, 95,000 deaths in 2024 and vitamin A guidance come from WHO's measles fact sheet. The free vaccines at government facilities and the 1166 helpline come from the Federal Directorate of Immunisation website, epi.gov.pk. The ages of 9 and 15 months come from our earlier reading of the schedule and are reported, because the schedule is an image we could not open. We did not find current Pakistan measles case counts at source, so we give none. This page is not medical advice.