The conversation in the Mexico City subway has a common topic: measles. In the women-only car, strangers begin a conversation about vaccine doubts, symptoms and prevention. “That’s why I already bring a mask,” says one. “For those of us who have children in school, it is better to get vaccinated,” responds another. Upon exiting the tunnels, the theme repeats itself. Some of the 158 semi-fixed vaccination points installed by the capital’s Government are located in strategic areas of the city, some of them on busy public transport. At nine o’clock, in front of the Balderas station, the nurses begin to administer doses to the 10 people waiting in line. One stop further on, the line is about 60 long, while in front of the Angel of Independence, on Paseo de la Reforma, there are at least 100 people.
The capital woke up this Tuesday with 195 confirmed cases and an intensive campaign to contain the virus. The Secretary of Health, Nadine Gasman, has called on the population to “take responsibility” and join the collective effort to stop infections. The Government has enabled health centers and mobile brigades for this. Although the city has more than nine million inhabitants, “195 cases do not seem to be many, but since it is a very contagious virus, we have the vaccine, that is why we are dedicated to it,” he said. In addition, he has warned that “in babies and people who are malnourished or immunodeficient, measles can be serious.”
The atmosphere in the lines of the modules is one of fear and little clarity about who should be vaccinated. The nurses repeat the instructions: “People from 10 to 49 years old, not pregnant or breastfeeding.” Some admit to not being clear about the symptoms or the level of risk, but seek peace of mind in the injection. “Do you want to feel safe? Get vaccinated,” says a sign hanging from the stand. José Pablo Reyes, 24, and Solari Jesús Pérez, 19, study at the Insurgentes University, a few steps from Balderas. They are on recess when they see the Ministry of Health tent. “Let’s get vaccinated, guy,” the first persuades. With the cotton pressing on their arm after the puncture, they say that until recently they had not even considered getting the vaccine. It was the news of the death of a three-month-old baby from measles, which was announced this Tuesday, that raised the alarm and changed their perception. “After the Covid experience, anything can happen,” says Solari. Valeria Mejía, 19, also a student at that university, calls on the phone as the line advances: “Mom, am I vaccinated for measles?” The answer is short: “I don’t know, you get vaccinated.”
Mariana López, a 28-year-old nurse, comes driven by her work, in which the virus spreads as quickly as fear: “Measles is scary and people are afraid, but there is no need to panic either. You just have to get vaccinated and pay attention to the recommendations.” Yazmín Santos, a 38-year-old police officer from the Secretariat of Citizen Security, agrees. Work shifts of up to 36 hours. “We are in contact with many people, it is better to be protected. There is a lot of alert, there was a case in my son’s high school,” she shares.
In Salto del Agua, the carp is lost among the street stalls. Five nurses, of the 1,500 deployed in the capital, organize the attendees: two register, two prepare the doses and one applies them. The wait is short. On the other hand, the Angel of Independence module is packed. Surrounded by tall office buildings, many employees, still wearing badges, “escaped” from work to get immunized. América Hernández, a 25-year-old lawyer, arrived two hours before opening and received a number to return later. At 10:30 he manages to get vaccinated, while an IMSS Bienestar worker counts 90 people in line and asks the rest to go to other points. “I get vaccinated out of fear, because there is a baby at home,” she says. Those who did not get a dose search on their phones for other nearby positions.
A scene that is repeated is that of people over 49 years of age trying to receive a dose. “It’s no good if they don’t give it to us,” claims a man. “I am an older adult, we are vulnerable,” adds another. Omar Gutiérrez Ramírez, from the IMSS Bienestar, who is supervisor of the modules in the central zone, explains: “The indication is to vaccinate from 10 to 49 years old and for minors to complete their schedules.” Each point has about 200 injections daily. “There is a lot of positive response from people. They have been finishing [las dosis] between one and two in the afternoon,” he explains.
At the national level the figure is 28 deaths – one more to be confirmed – and more than 9,000 cases. The rebound has highlighted the accumulated lag in the application of vaccines during the last decade. Mexico needs coverage of at least 95% to block the transmission of a disease that can generate up to 18 new infections for each case and that is considered the most contagious in the world, as reported this morning by David Kershenobich, head of the Ministry of Health. He did so in the morning conference of the president, Claudia Sheinbaum, who also sought to convey calm. The National Palace has assured that there are 28 million doses available and that between 2025 and so far in 2026, 14.3 million have been applied. In a typical year, between five and six million are administered, said the director of the IMSS, Zoé Robledo. “The majority of Mexicans are vaccinated, that is very important,” the president insisted. Mexico is one step away from losing the status of a measles-free country granted by the World Health Organization, which has granted an extension.
The authorities have called on families with children between 6 months and 12 years old to review their cards, especially if they have not received any doses or if more than six months have passed since the first application without completing the schedule. It also calls for those who are between 10 and 49 years old and were not vaccinated in childhood.
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date:2026-02-12 04:40:00