Punjab Government has decided to initiate ‘Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign’ in April and May wherein about 75 lakh children, between the age of nine months and 15 years, would be immunised across the State.
“To reduce infant mortality rate and birth defects, the Health Department would carry out Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign for the fortification of children against measles and rubella virus,” said the state Health and Family Welfare Minister Brahm Mohindra on Wednesday.
He said that measles is a major childhood killer disease across the world whereas congenital rubella syndrome is also responsible for irreversible birth defects.
Mohindra said that instructions regarding the campaign have been issued to the all Civil Surgeons under which about 75 lakh children would be immunized. Soon, the state level micro-plan would be finalised to cover each and every village, schools and remote areas of the state, he added.
He said that this ambitious campaign would also address the CRS (Congenital Rubella Syndrome) which causes birth defects such as irreversible deafness and blindness in the children.
“Measles is highly infectious and easily spread by the coughing and sneezing via personal contact or direct contact with secretions. On the other hand, rubella is mild viral infection and cause hearing impairments, eye and heart defects and brain damage. The state level vaccination campaign will ensure the health security as fortification of infants and children to lead healthy life,” he said.
Mohindra said that the Health Department is also conducting awareness activities (IEC) concerning the vaccination campaign for 100 percent immunization of the children in the state.
“A plan to protect the children from the preventive diseases which are infectious and transferable between the infants and children has also been chalked out,” said Mohindra.