Union Government launches measles-rubella vaccination drive

The Union Health Ministry on 5 February 2017 launched the measles-rubella (MR) vaccination campaign in Bengaluru.

The crusade against the two diseases will start from five states/UTs Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Goa and Lakshadweep covering nearly 3.6 crore children.

Subsequently, the measles-rubella vaccine campaign will be introduced in routine immunisation, replacing the currently given two doses of measles vaccine, at 9-12 months and 16-24 months of age.

About MR vaccination campaign

• The campaign targets around 41 crore children across India, the largest ever in any such campaign.

• Under the campaign, children aged between 9 months and less than 15 years will be given a single shot of Measles-Rubella vaccination irrespective of their previous measles/rubella vaccination status or measles/rubella disease status.

• The vaccine, which will be free-of-cost, will be administered across the states from session sites at schools, health facilities and outreach session sites.

• At present, measles vaccine is provided under Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP). However, rubella vaccine will be a new addition.

About measles

• Measles is a highly contagious infection caused by the measles virus.

• It is an airborne disease. It spreads easily through the coughs and sneezes of those infected.

• The measles vaccination has resulted in a 75 per cent decrease in deaths from measles between 2000 and 2013. At present, around 85 per cent of children are being currently vaccinated globally.

• As a result of widespread vaccination, the disease was eliminated from the Americas by 2016.

About rubella

• Rubella is an infection caused by the rubella virus.

• It is also known as German measles or three-day measles.

• The disease is usually spread through the air via coughs of people who are infected.

• It is preventable with the rubella vaccine with a single dose being more than 95 per cent effective.