Ongoing vaccination campaign against Measles-Rubella in Punjab gets massive success; 50 Lakh children immunized

Chandigarh, June 9: The vaccination campaign against Measles-Rubella which was kicked-off on 1st of May this year in Punjab has achieved a major success as so far more than 50 Lakh children have been vaccinated.

 

Disclosing this, the Health and Family Welfare Minister of Punjab Brahm Mohindra said that so far more than 50 Lakh children have been vaccinated under ongoing State-wide Vaccination Campaign against Measles-Rubella. However, this is a major success for Health & Family Welfare Department of Punjab as it has immunized 50 Lakh children of 9 months to 15 years of age in just a time period of one month.

The Punjab Health Minister further said that although efforts were made in the initial stage to certain anti-development forces, out of their vested interests to scuttle this campaign, but with the multipronged efforts and timely action by the department, we have been able to defeat the nefarious designs of the perpetrators and achieve the desired results.

He also appreciated the untiring efforts of the field workers of the health department and the support extended by the education department, deputy commissioners and others paraphernalia in making the campaign a grand success.

He exhorted the parents of children who could not be vaccinated till now to get their children vaccinated in the nearest health institutions, free of cost. Brahm Mohindra, in the end, reiterated that the State government was committed to bring an end to Measles deaths and reduce abnormalities due to Rubella.

BACKGROUND:

The State-wide Vaccination Campaign against Measles-Rubella was kicked-off on 1ST May from Punjab’s Faridkot district as a part of a National strategy to eliminate Measles and control Rubella in the country. During the mega campaign, around 75 lakh children aged between 9 months to 15 years will be vaccinated.

Importantly, MR vaccine is safe and administered worldwide under Routine Immunization program as well as through MR vaccination campaigns. MR vaccine is also used for the campaign is a WHO prequalified vaccine, produced under stringent and highly supervised conditions by Serum Institute of India which is one of the largest vaccine manufacturers and exporters globally with its vaccines used all over the world including American and European nations.

Already 3 phases of MR vaccination Campaign have been completed in 13 states covering around 7-8 crore children with this vaccine safely while Punjab is being covered in Phase 4.

Measles can be prevented by immunizing children with two doses of measles vaccine, which is safe and effective. Also, Rubella is another infectious yet mild viral illness affecting both children and adults that can cause death and disabilities in the new-born if an unprotected pregnant woman gets infected with rubella virus in early pregnancy. Rubella virus has the potential to cause abortions, stillbirths and severe birth defects known as congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), including deafness and blindness in the new-born child.