Webinar: preparing annual status updates on measles and rubella elimination activities

Event highlight

On 22 April 2026, WHO/Europe, serving as Secretariat of the European Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination (RVC), convened an online webinar to strengthen country capacity to prepare high-quality annual status updates (ASUs) on measles and rubella epidemiology and elimination activities for 2025. These reports are reviewed by the RVC to annually assess the status of measles and rubella elimination in each WHO Member State. The event reaffirmed the WHO European Region’s shared commitment to achieving and sustaining measles and rubella elimination and to ensuring that verification of elimination is grounded in robust, timely and well-interpreted national evidence.

With 170 online participants from WHO Member States and partner organizations, including technical experts from national health systems and national verification committees (NVCs), the webinar provided a practical, interactive platform to align approaches across the Region. The webinar was conducted in English with simultaneous translation into Russian. Presentations from the RVC and WHO technical team (Secretariat) were well received, reflecting strong demand for clear guidance and shared learning as countries finalize their submissions.

The session:

• highlighted key RVC recommendations for NVCs and national programmes;
• clarified expectations for data collection, analysis and presentation in the ASU form and supplementary documents; and
• addressed common, recurring challenges seen across ASUs, helping countries focus on the information that matters most for verification.

As the RVC prepares for its 15th annual meeting in September 2026, this webinar underscored that high-quality ASUs are more than a reporting requirement – they are a critical tool for strengthening surveillance, improving programme performance and documenting progress towards measles and rubella elimination. WHO/Europe teams in the Regional Office and in countries will continue close collaboration with national counterparts to support comprehensive, consistent and credible evidence packages, ensuring that data are rigorously collected, analyzed by NVCs and clearly presented to the RVC for its next annual review. Countries are encouraged to maintain momentum and submit the required 2025 information by 30 June 2026.

 

---

Event notice

As the Secretariat of the European Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination (RVC), WHO/Europe is organizing a webinar to support countries in preparing their annual status updates (ASUs) on measles and rubella epidemiology and elimination activities in 2025. The webinar will:

• highlight key recommendations from the RVC to national verification committees (NVCs);
• clarify requirements for data collection, analysis and presentation in the ASU form and any supplementary documents; and
• address common issues identified repeatedly across ASUs from different countries.

Background and rationale

The RVC will hold its 15th meeting in September 2026. As part of the measles and rubella elimination verification process and procedures, the RVC will review ASUs and any additional information submitted by countries for 2025. NVCs, or equivalent structures, supported by their secretariats (experts from the public health sector of national health systems) are invited to prepare and submit the required information by 30 June 2026.

Target audience

This webinar is intended for members of NVCs (or equivalent structures) and their secretariats, which contribute to compiling and analysing national data for NVC review. The session, conducted in English with Russian interpretation, will serve as a refresher on procedures and requirements and will also provide an opportunity to participants to ask questions during (or after) the webinar.