CHENNAI: Over 100 countries use the same Measles-Rubella vaccine produced at the Serum Institute of India, Pune. Since the World Health Organisation has guaranteed the vaccine’s quality and safety in India, parents need not panic about vaccination of children, said Dr Henk Bekedam, WHO representative to India, on Monday.
Speaking to the media after visiting the Institute of Child Health, Egmore, where MR vaccination was on, he said, “One to two per cent of children die if afflicted by measles. MR vaccine is effective in the countries used, so it’s important children get vaccinated.”
Dr Soumya Swaminathan, director general of Indian Council of Medical Research, health minister Dr Vijaya Bhaskar, health secretary J Radhakrishnan, and Dr K Kolandaswamy, director of public health accompanied him.
About swine flu cases, Dr Vijaya Bhaskar said, “Swine flu is under control. When cases were reported in Pudu Gummidipondi in Tiruvallur district, Vellore, Tiruchy and other places, the infection was brought under control. People need not to panic about it because, there is adequate stock of vaccine and medicines,” he added.
The minister said the government had extended MR vaccine programme for 15 more days to cover the remaining children.