Having administered Measles Rubella vaccine to 90 % of children aged between nine months and 15 years, the district Health Department will hold a week-long mop-up drive from Thursday to vaccinate students who have been left out during the month-long drive.
In a press release, District Reproductive Child Health Officer H. Ashok said that between February 7 and March 1, they vaccinated 4,32,983 children in 2,551 schools and 2,104 anganwadis in the district. During the mop-up activity, the Health Department personnel will reach out to 39,606 children who have been left out.
Dr. Ashok said during the mop-up activity, vaccination will be administered between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Primary Health Centre, Community Health Centre, taluk hospital, Urban Health Centres and the paediatric section of the Government Wenlock Hospital.
There are 4,72,589 children aged between nine months and 15 years who have to be administered MR vaccine in the district.
Lack of publicity
As in other parts of the State, lack of adequate publicity about the vaccination drive and its purpose did affect vaccination of children in the first few days in Ullal and surrounding areas.
Part of it was due to a video circulated on a social media giving false information about the vaccine that created fear among parents.
While going ahead with the vaccination schedule in schools and anganwadis, the Health Department personnel met dissenting parents and also religious leaders to clear doubts about MR vaccine.
Steps were taken to hold vaccination camp for a second time in schools where more than 50 % of the children had been left out.
Dr. Ashok hopes to cover all children by March 8. He thanked personnel from the Education and Women and Child Welfare departments, Wakf Board and members of Lions Club and Rotary Club for the success of the campaign.
