# Can implementation research be a game changer for measles elimination in Africa?

## TL;DR

Measles outbreaks persist in Africa despite an effective vaccine, and implementation research could help address the barriers to vaccination.

## Contribution

The paper argues for the importance of implementation research in addressing measles vaccination barriers in the WHO African Region.

## Key findings

- Measles outbreaks continue in Africa despite a highly effective vaccine.
- Implementation research can help understand and address barriers to measles vaccination.
- Investing in implementation research is critical for measles elimination in the region.

## Abstract

Many countries in Africa still experience large and disruptive measles outbreaks despite the availability of a highly effective vaccine. In 2023, the estimated number of measles cases and deaths in the World Health Organization African Region was 4,801,946 cases and 75,942 deaths, respectively. Studies have shown that multiple implementation challenges affect equitable access and uptake of measles-containing vaccines, with specific barriers varying by settings. Implementation research, which emerged in response to know-do gaps in health systems, has several tools that can be used to gain a thorough understanding of the barriers to measles vaccination and how to address them using appropriate implementation strategies. In this commentary, we discuss why investment in implementation research for measles elimination is a programmatic imperative for countries in the WHO African Region.