Rubella campaign under way in Kozhikode schools

It will cover 76,026 girl students

The first dose of Rubella Vaccine being administered to a girl as part of the State initiative on Disabilities programme in presence of M.K.Muneer, Minister for Social welfare, and Mayor K.Chandrika, at the Womens and Childrens Hospital Thycaud, in Thiruvananthapuram. File Photo: S. Mahinsha

The rubella vaccination programme, being carried out in Kozhikode district since Monday, will cover 76,026 girl students from Classes 9 to 12 in government and aided schools.

School headmasters in Kozhikode, Vadakara, and Thamarassery educational districts were given special training to conduct the campaign. A district-level task force, which is monitoring the programme, had organised training programmes for medical officers and supervisors, and they have, in turn, have given training to health workers and workers of Integrated Child Development Services. A medical team led by a doctor would visit schools in all panchayats and finish the vaccination programme before February 15, District Medical Officer K. Mohanan, and M.P. Mani, mass media officer, told presspersons on Wednesday.

Symptoms

Rubella caused by rubella virus is characterised by rashes on skin as in jaundice; fever; reddish tinge in the eyes; and mild joint pain, but is not fatal. However, in pregnant women, it could affect the brain, eyesight, and heart of the foetus.

Though rubella vaccine does not have serious side-effects, it is known to cause mild knee-pain, mild fever, and sore throat, Ashadevi, district ECH Officer, said at the press conference.