Punjab Health Department will conduct Measles Rubella Vaccination campaign from May 1 as part of National strategy to eliminate Measles and control Rubella in the country.
State Health Minister Brahm Mohindra said all children aged 9 months to less than 15 years will be vaccinated regardless of previous vaccination with MR / MMR or history of measles / rubella like illness. An estimated 75 lakh children will be vaccinated in the campaign over a period of 4-6 weeks. The vaccination will first be conducted in schools and later in community through outreach sessions.
Mohindra said 5200 vaccination teams and 1733 supervisors have been deployed to cover about 29000 schools conducting nearly 59000 vaccination sessions across the state. Each vaccination team will have 3 members and a volunteer. About 5200 vaccinators, nearly 19000 ASHAs and 25000 AnganWadi Workers have been trained. So far, teachers from about 29000 schools have been sensitized about the campaign. He stated that the goal of MR campaign is to accelerate population immunity by reaching 100% target children with MR vaccine that will reduce cases and deaths from measles and disabilities from Congenital Rubella Syndrome. like Polio it is now targeted to make our country Measles and Rubella free by 2020.