A massive Measles Rubella (RC) vaccination campaign would be launched in Uttarakhand from October 30. The campaign aims to vaccinate 2835658 children in 13 districts of the State.
Children will be given a single shot of Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine during the campaign. Following the campaign, MR vaccine will become a part of routine immunization and will replace measles vaccine, currently given at 9-12 months and 16-24 months of age of child.
Addressing a workshop here on Thursday, the Deputy Commissioner, Immunization, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Pradeep Haldar said that India has taken up a target to eliminate measles and control rubella/congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) by the year 2020.
Providing details of the campaign, he said that this is the largest ever vaccination campaign worldwide which aims to cover approximately 41 Crore children in the age group of 9 months to less than 15 years of age. He said,
“Immunization is one of the most cost-effective ways to protect children’s lives and future. Through full immunization coverage, we can make sure that the benefits of life-saving vaccines reach every child.
The recently introduced measles-rubella vaccine, which will be provided for free in schools, in health facilities and at outreach session sites during the campaign, and later in routine immunization is another such step to achieving our goals.”
Dr Rakesh Vishwakarma, of World Health Organization (WHO) said that congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) is responsible for irreversible birth defects affecting thousands of children in a year. He said, “WHO congratulates India for launching one of the world’s largest vaccination campaign against measles, a major childhood killer disease.
India has already beaten smallpox, polio, maternal and neonatal tetanus and yaws. Further gains in the battle against measles will help achieve a number of other public health priorities.”
Representative of United Nation International Children Education Fund (UNICEF) representative, Sonia Sarkar sought support of media in success of the campaign.
The state immunization officer Bharati Rana said that the health department is all geared up for the success of campaign in the state. She said that help of different departments of the state government would be taken in the drive.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has initiated measles-rubella (MR) vaccination campaign in the age group of 9 months to less than 15 years in a phased manner across the nation.
The first phase of measles-rubella vaccination campaign was launched in February 2017 in five states ( Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, lakshadweep and Puducherry) and in this phase more than 3.3 crore children were vaccinated, reaching out to 97 percent of the intended age group.
The measles-rubella campaign marks the introduction of the rubella vaccine in India’s childhood immunization programme for the first time. Rubella, which is commonly referred to as German measles is a mild infection, but can have serious consequences if it occurs in pregnant women.
The new MR vaccine also protects against measles, a major killer of small children. Measles is highly contagious and spreads through coughing. India accounts for 36 percent of the measles death globally. Those who survive are more vulnerable to its complications such as diarrhea and pneumonia.