At least 75 lakh children in Punjab to be immunized under measles-rubella vaccination campaign

Chandigarh, January 4: About 75 lakh children between the age of 9 months to 15 years would be immunized in Punjab during the month of April and May this year under the ‘Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign' initiative.

 

The Punjab government on Wednesday announced to initiate the ‘Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign' in the month of April and May 2018 under which about 75 lakh children between the age of 9 months to 15 years would be immunized in the State.

The State Health Minister Brahm Mohindra said that in order to reduce infant mortality rate and birth defects, the health department would carry out the ‘Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign’ for the fortification of the children against the measles and rubella virus. He further stated that measles is a major childhood killer disease across the world whereas congenital rubella syndrome is also responsible for irreversible birth defects.

Minister Mohindra also said that instructions regarding the campaign have been issued to all Civil Surgeons under which about 75 lakh children would be immunized. He said that soon state level micro-plan would finalize to cover each and every village, schools and remote areas of the state.

The Minister further added that this ambitious campaign would also address the C.R.S. that stands for Congenital Rubella Syndrome which causes birth defects such as irreversible deafness and blindness in the children.

Giving up more details, he said that measles is highly infectious and easily spread by the coughing and sneezing via personal contact or direct contact with secretions. On the other hand, rubella is a mild viral infection and cause hearing impairments, eye and heart defects and brain damage.

The Minister, on this occasion also noted that this state-level vaccination campaign will ensure the health security as fortification of infants and children to lead a healthy life. He said that health department is also conducting awareness activities (IEC) concerning the vaccination campaign for 100 percent immunization of the children in the state. “A plan to protect the children from the preventable diseases which are infectious and transferable between the infants and children has also been chalked out,” Brahm Mohindra concluded.