Drive against measles

A nationwide campaign to inoculate children against measles and rubella is currently underway. The fully vaccinated get life-long immunity from these dangerous illnesses. Unvaccinated children are vulnerable to contracting these diseases, which may give rise to complications in later life, such as physical/mental stunting, deafness and cardio-vascular issues. Women suffering from measles and rubella during pregnancy might give birth to babies with some of the afore-mentioned complications.

Every four years, the government launches a countrywide measles/rubella vaccination drive and gradually aims to eliminate these diseases. If all children, between the ages of nine months and 15 years, are immunised, it will also protect the coming generations from these dangerous diseases. Despite the great benefits of inoculation, this time around, the national campaign is meeting with vaccine refusal by parents in some parts of the country due reportedly to a few deaths after vaccination during the previous two vaccination drives. It is generally believed that the fatalities occurred because some vaccinators were untrained. The government intends to vaccinate children at their schools, but schoolteachers and functionaries are hesitant to directly participate in the vaccination drive, so they are sending the consent form to parents.

Health officials say they have ensured that only well-trained hands are given the responsibility of administering the vaccine. Parents should be informed of the side-effects of the jab and who should not take it. Those suffering from fever, including pregnant women, and other sick persons should not be given the injection. The side-effects of the jab are ordinary. This information will go a long way in removing hesitancy. It appears that the inoculation campaign has not been given proper publicity. Few know two doses of the vaccine are to be injected with an interval of 28 days, and the syringes used are auto disposable. It should also be ensured that vaccinators are not given specific targets.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 28^th, 2021.

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