BHUBANESWAR: The State Government is gearing up to start mass vaccination from January 29 to reduce Measles and Rubella (MR) morbidity and mortality. As many as 1.25 crore children below 15 years will be covered during the five-week campaign. While Measles vaccine has been a part of the routine immunisation programme in Odisha with the coverage of around 88 per cent, Rubella will be introduced for the first time. In order to eliminate Measles and control Rubella by 2020 the coverage needs to be 95 per cent. Odisha is the 10th State to introduce the new MR vaccine.
Speaking at a round-table discussion organised by Unicef, Joint Director (Child Health) Dr KK Das said the State has prepared a robust plan to cover all children in one go. “We have planned two weeks each for vaccination in schools and community while the missed out children will be targeted in the last one week. A mop-up round has been planned to ensure 100 per cent coverage. The State has sought 1.40 crore vaccines,” he said.
Though earlier Measles vaccine was being administered to children between 9 to 24 months in two phases, it has not been eradicated and the cases continued to be reported from various parts of the State. Outbreaks of Rubella, for which no vaccination has been found yet, has become a cause of concern.
This year alone, three outbreaks of Measles and six of Rubella have been reported in Bhubaneswar while Tangi reported one outbreak of Measles. While five of the six outbreaks occurred in slums, one was reported from a private boarding school. Among the coastal districts, Balasore tops the list with a number of outbreaks last year. Surveillance for Measles and Rubella was started in 2013.
“Both M&R are preventable by administration of vaccine. We have appealed all stakeholders to come forward and make the mass vaccination drive a complete success. Gaon Kalyan Samitis and schools will play a major role in achieving the target,” said Deputy Director (Immunisation) Tapas Kumar Patra.