Measles-Rubella (MR) prevention vaccine was safe and parents must ensure that it was administered to their children aged between nine months and 15 years, said Additional Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine P. Vadivelan.
Addressing mediapersons here on Saturday, he said that of the 1.80 crore children targeted in the State, 90 lakh had been covered so far. To achieve hundred per cent vaccination, the State government had extended the vaccination camp for 15 more days till March 15.
The vaccination camps were being organised at government hospitals, government medical college hospitals, primary health centres and select private hospitals on all days. Unfortunately, parents were misguided through social media. It was one of the safest vaccines with no side effects but for pain at injection site and fever after five days of vaccination. It increased the immunity of a child. It would prevent measles-associated death due to diarrhoea and pneumonia and congenital rubella syndrome which caused developmental delay, hearing defects and heart diseases in the newborns.
The Indian academy of Paediatrics had endorsed the vaccine produced by Serum Institute Life Sciences, India. The vaccine was being used in the private sector for the past 35 years and introduced by the government for the first time. The vaccination drive was aimed at preventing 50,000 deaths caused by measles every year, besides reaching the infant and child survival goal of World Health Organisation.
Awareness measures
With the aid of posters, banners and public address system, awareness of the importance of MR vaccination was being spread among the public. Short films had been made and opinions from parents, teachers and doctors had been posted on ‘WhatsApp’ groups. Efforts were also being taken to conduct meetings involving parents and teachers. Parents could get their doubts cleared at toll-free helpline, ‘104,’ he said.
Thoothukudi Government Medical College Dean B. Santhakumar said the media had the responsibility to create awareness of the importance of MR vaccination and allay fears among the public.
Paediatrician S. Vellapandian said that in the last 15 years, he came across two cases of rubella syndrome. There was no cure for it, he said and appealed to the parents not to believe in rumours.
Joint Director of Health Banu, Deputy Director A.D. Bosco Raja, City Health Officer Pradeep Krishnakumar, Arunachalam, Head, Department of Paediatrics, Thoothukudi GH, Professors P. Kumaran and Padmanaban were present.
