NEW DELHI: More than 76% of the eligible child population in the national capital has been covered so far under the measles-rubella vaccination programme.The total eligible population estimated by the state government is 11.40 lakh children, out of which the health department has already covered 8.48 lakh children under the campaign.According to district-wise data, the East district has the maximum coverage with 84.9% children, followed by the West district at 84.4%. The lowest turnout has been seen in the South East district with only 66% coverage.”The high risk and difficult areas are rather almost covered but low turnout is seen from the elite class. All eligible children should receive this vaccine for protection,” said a senior health official.The district officials are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that all children are covered under the special programme. Apart from routine areas such as clusters and slums where Asha and anganwadi workers are visiting, the departments are engaging others as well to conduct the camps.”This time the campaigning is three times as intense as previous years. Apart from medical institutes like ESI hospitals and dispensaries, we are also engaging with religious places, community centres, halls, etc, to promote the campaign. We are also requesting private hospitals to provide it for free during the campaign period. We are checking on as many eligible beneficiaries as possible,” said a health official from the West district.The government has also insisted on immunising children who have received the vaccine earlier. This is being provided free of cost by the state health department.”There is no harm in taking the vaccine twice. It provides rapid immunisation against measles-rubella,” said Dr Nameeth Jerath, paediatrician at Apollo Hospitals.The Delhi government started the measles-rubella (MR) vaccination campaign across the national capital on February 6. It will continue until March 6. Though the immunisation can be continued till the age of 15, the state government has decided to keep the beneficiaries between 9 months and 5 years of age in this campaign.The MR campaign was scheduled to start in January 2019 but was put on hold by Delhi High Court after a petition was filed by six children through their parents stating that it was being done forcibly. The Delhi government had then mandated compulsory vaccination of children even without the consent of their parents.After missing a couple of targets to eliminate MR from the country, the government has now set a target to eliminate it this year.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/over-76-kids-covered-by-measles-rubella-campaign-in-delhi/articleshow/98242642.cms
