The resistance of the parents of children studying in private schools towards the MR (measles-rubella) vaccination drive could perhaps have been avoided if the State Health Department had started creating awareness about the need for it well ahead of the campaign, which begins on Tuesday.
The department is facing a big challenge from parents of students in urban areas, especially Bengaluru Urban. “We had written to all the departments concerned two months ago and had even involved the Chief Secretary of the State to create awareness about the campaign,” said Pradeep Haldar, Deputy Commissioner (Immunisation), Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
When pointed out that this was only a bureaucratic exercise and actual interactions with parents at the ground level had started only when the campaign launch date was nearing, Dr. Haldar said, “It is a learning experience for us too. When we launch the campaign in other States, we will keep this in mind.”
State project director (RCH) P. Saroja said the campaign was facing a major challenge from schools in Bengaluru Urban. “Although there was resentment in Mangaluru and other cities, we overcame the problem there. In Bengaluru Urban, we started [spreading] awareness quite ahead of the campaign launch but as over 5,000 elite private schools are located here, the resentment is high and there is a difference of opinion with parents. As we cannot force the parents to get their children vaccinated, teams of officials from UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) are visiting schools to counsel parents. Most schools have been convinced,” she said.
Explaining the importance of the campaign, Dr. Haldar said that according to surveillance data, infection was high among children in the age group of nine months to 15 years. “If the viral infection is prevented in this age group, the disease can be tackled effectively. Although the vaccination is voluntary, it is essential in the interest of public health, especially when the Indian government has set a goal of eliminating measles and rubella by 2020. Every child, irrespective of previous vaccination history, has to be immunised,” Dr. Haldar said.
