The intensive State-wide Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign, being implemented as part of a national campaign to eliminate measles and to control rubella by 2020, will be kick-started on October 3.
One additional dose of MR vaccine will be given to all children between nine months of age and 15 years, regardless of whether they have been vaccinated earlier, as part of the national campaign.
Measles is a disease that can cause death and significant morbidity in children. Both adults and children are largely unaffected by rubella. But the consequences can be devastating for women if they contract the infection in early pregnancy, as their babies could be born with congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) or a group of severe birth defects, including mental and physical retardation and cardiac defects.
The MR vaccine has been found to be highly safe, affording life-long protection against both measles and rubella.
This wide age-range campaign, as recommended by National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation, will rapidly build up immunity for both measles and rubella and reduce the transmission of both diseases in the community.
In the district, 6,34,771 children in the target group will be given the vaccine.
At a review meeting held here on Wednesday to assess the preparations in the district for implementing the campaign, Additional District Magistrate John V. Samuel directed grama panchayats to hold special grama sabhas to create awareness about the campaign.
