Adverse campaigns influencing parents and teachers in the district interiors is the reason behind the first phase of administering measles-rubella (MR) vaccine to schoolchildren evoking a partial response in Palakkad.
The district lags far behind in comparison to other parts of the State. District Collector P. Suresh Babu has instructed the officials concerned to speed up the process by ensuring better coordination with parents and school authorities. He has also instructed the authorities concerned to initiate further awareness campaigns.
Talking to mediapersons here on Tuesday, District Medical Officer K.P. Reetha said only 46.08% school students were vaccinated during the first phase. However, efforts are on to administer the vaccine to 95% school students by November 3.
Among the districts in Kerala, Palakkad stands 11th in the number of students administered with the vaccine. While the district has 6,73,693 school students, only 2,90,060 were vaccinated in the first phase that ended on October 22. The worst performing blocks are Alanellur, Chalissery, Chalavara and Koppam. In Chalavara, hardly 8% were vaccinated.
Mr Suresh Babu said district officials would interact with religious leaders apart from engaging in house visits to enhance the vaccination drive.
