Measles outbreak prompts vaccine drive

Over 500 cases reported across Rawalpindi district

ISLAMABAD:

A measles outbreak in the Rawalpindi district has the district health authority scampering as it rolled out an emergency six-day vaccination drive to vaccinate every child between the ages of six months to five years across 60 union councils (UCs).

The outbreak has resulted in 506 cases from Rawalpindi following which authorities decided to roll out an anti-measles vaccination drive targeting 350,000 children across the city.

The drive is scheduled from June 19 to June 24, with 180 teams formed to carry out the campaign. The health authority has also requested police security for the teams operating in the field.

The medical officers of UCs, team assistants, and social mobilizers have been given the task of the vaccination drive.

The health authority has written to the Rawalpindi commissioner and deputy commissioner, Chaklala, Wah, Station Headquarters, Headquarters X Corps, the director of Colleges and the president of Private Schools Association as well as others seeking assistance in the campaign.

The department is also in contact with the parents of 348 children who had contracted measles when the outbreak was first reported. Later, the number of cases jumped to 506.

Meanwhile, the UCs have chosen Dr Ehsan Ghani as the district health officer and Dr Ijaz Ahmed as its chief executive officer.

The teams have also been tasked to apprise parents on how to treat children infected with measles and what measures to take for children who have developed immunity.

The DHO said that preparations for the immunization campaign across 60 union councils were completed. He added that the population was around 2.2 million, with 350,000 believed to be children between the ages of six months and five years.

He added that the authority was yet to acquire the vaccine but it would be purchased before the start of the drive and they were discussing the price.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15^th, 2023.