Union ministry of health and family welfare will roll out the second phase of the measles-rubella (MR) vaccination this month. The first phase of MR vaccination took place in the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Lakshadweep and Puducherry during which more than 3.3 crore children were vaccinated.
The next round, starting this month, will cover eight states and union territories―Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Telangana and Uttarakhand. In this phase, the government plans to cover 3.4 crore children. All children from nine months to less than 15 years of age will be given a single shot of measles-rubella vaccination during this campaign.
Following the campaign, the vaccine will become a part of routine immunisation and will replace measles vaccine, currently given at 9-12 months and 16-24 months of age.
The campaign, that aims to cover 41 crore children, is the largest vaccination campaign in the world, according to the ministry. Measles, an infectious disease caused by morbillivirus characterised by fever, cough and coryza, followed by a typical rash, is the leading cause of under-five child mortality. The vaccine for measles directly contributes to the reduction of under-five mortality, and in combination with rubella vaccine, also controls rubella and prevents congenital rubella syndrome.
According to a 2015 article in the Journal of Infection Ecology and Epidemiology, more than 50 per cent of the global measles-associated deaths have been reported in India. The article says that despite the government's efforts, only 30 per cent of vaccinated infants received the measles vaccine at the recommended age of nine months.
Several challenges exist in ensuring that measles, along with mumps and rubella, is eliminated in the country, including infrastructure and manpower issues. The article recommends that policy makers should make all efforts to ensure high coverage of the vaccine, and increase awareness on different aspects of measles. The latter will help increase acceptance for the vaccine among parents, which has been identified as one of the hindrances in improving coverage.Â
