With only two days left for the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign, over a dozen private schools, especially CBSE and ICSE schools, that were reluctant to be part of the drive for several reasons, have now reportedly agreed to support the movement and get their students vaccinated.
“As the campaign is a national programme, the schools cannot stay away from it. About 20-25 schools that were unwilling in the beginning, were told through individual letters to comply with the directive. If they continue to drag their feet, the matter has to be reported to the Government of India,” D. Randeep, Deputy Commissioner, said.
He told The Hindu that the private school managements need not worry about the safety precautions being taken, with the campaign being one of the largest in the country covering lakhs of children below the age of 15. “Even though the children had been vaccinated against measles and rubella in the past, the vaccine can be administered again. Nothing harmful can come from this.”
Mr. Randeep said a few schools had still not expressed readiness. “We hope they will reconsider their decision and support the initiative.”
State schools ready
However, schools falling under the Department of Public Instruction were complying with the directive. These institutions have started collecting the consent from the parents, whose willingness is a must to get the children vaccinated against MR.
District Health Officer Basavaraj, who is also a paediatrician, told The Hindu that certain top private hospitals have come forward to support the drive since the Health Department could not handle such a big campaign all by itself. Those hospitals will cover schools located close to them.
Task force constituted
A task force comprising Dr, Basavaraj and the Director and Dean of Mysore Medical College and Research Institute (MMCRI), B. Krishnamurthy; professor in paediatrics at JSS Medical College and Hospital, Dr. Narayanappa has been constituted to oversee the campaign that begins from February 7.
The schools will be covered in the first two weeks, followed by PHCs, CHCs and anganwadis in the third week and a door-to-door campaign in the last week.
If private schools cannot start the drive on February 7, they can start at a later date since the campaign concludes on February 28, the Deputy Commissioner said.
All precautions had been taken and eight lakh children will be covered in district. “We are confident of 100 percent coverage by February 28,” Dr. Basavaraj said.
