The Government of India will soon introduce a Measles-Rubella combination vaccine under its Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP).
The combined vaccine will replace the current two doses of measles vaccine. The first dose of MR combined vaccine will be given at 9-12 months and the second dose at 16-24 months, said Pradeep Haldar, Deputy Commissioner (Immunisation), Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Speaking to The Hindu on the occasion of the launch of a three-week MR combination vaccination campaign in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Goa, and Lakshadweep from February 7, Dr. Haldar said under the combined vaccination campaign, all children above nine months and below 15 years of age will be vaccinated.
The remaining States will be covered in a phased manner. The national launch was held in Bengaluru on Sunday in the presence of Union Ministers Faggan Singh Kulaste, Ananth Kumar, D.V. Sadananda Gowda, Karnataka Health Minister K.R. Ramesh Kumar, Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash R. Patil, and Chief Secretary Subhash Chandra Kuntia.
Voluntary, but essential
Although the vaccination in voluntary, it is essential in the interest of public health, especially when the government aims to eliminate measles and rubella by 2020. Every child, irrespective of previous vaccination history, has to be immunised as it will provide double protection against the two diseases, Dr. Haldar said.
As many as 7,500 trained vaccinators will immunise 1.64 crore children in Karnataka from February 7 to February 28 in schools, anganwadis and all government healthcare facilities.
