In December 2014, a measles outbreak among visitors at Disneyland served as a wake-up call that vaccinations are the only way to stop this highly contagious disease from spreading.
The American Red Cross has been at the forefront of eradicating measles since 2001, when it joined the United Nations Foundation, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF and the World Health Organization to form the Measles & Rubella Initiative. Committed to ensuring that no child dies from measles or is born with congenital rubella syndrome, the Initiative is one of the world’s most successful partnerships in global health, helping to control the spread of measles and reduce deaths. 
Since then, the American Red Cross and its Measles & Rubella Initiative partners have helped to vaccinate one billion children in more than 80 developing countries. We help countries plan, fund and measure efforts to stop measles and rubella for good.
In the Red Cross Los Angeles Region, youth members play a vital part in helping eradicate the disease by sponsoring fundraising events and by selling special Measles and Rubella pins. During March (Red Cross Month), Los Angeles Region Red Cross Youth Clubs are supporting the Initiative through sales of pins and fundraisers, including walkathons.
Each pin sells for $1, which vaccinates one child in a developing country. Students have sold more than 3,000 pins, which enables 3,000 children to be vaccinated.
Click here for more information about the Measles and Rubella Initiative.
