ONE of the largest vaccination campaigns in the world is set to be launched in the country today to administer the measles-rubella vaccine to more than 90m children. The combined injection will introduce the rubella vaccine for the first time to the Expanded Programme of Immunisation. During the 12-day nationwide campaign children between nine months and 15 years will be injected with the measles-rubella vaccine. Children younger than five years would also be given polio drops, irrespective of their immunisation status. The ambitious vaccination drive is aimed at curtailing an aggressive measles outbreak in the country that has somehow managed to evade the news cycle, even though it aims to reach all ‘invisible’ or ‘zero-dose’ children — those who have not received any dose of routine immunisation.
Measles is a highly infectious disease that remains one of the leading causes of death in young children living in poor countries. Survivors are often left with lifelong complications. So far this year, more than 17,000 cases of measles have been reported from 70 districts of the country which is more than double the figure reported in 2020. The most affected province appears to be Balochistan where half of the districts are said to be in the grip of a measles outbreak. According to official figures, over 50 children have died from measles complications across the country. Alarmingly, since last year, the authorities have also been witnessing a sharp increase in cases of congenital rubella syndrome. Rubella, commonly referred to as German measles, is highly infectious as well. Though it is usually a mild infection in children, it can cause life-threatening abnormalities in babies whose mothers have been infected during pregnancy. One hopes that the authorities do their utmost to make a success of this campaign and ensure that they reach all the intended targets. The inclusion of invisible children under the umbrella of routine immunisation will go a long way in protecting millions of youngsters from potentially dangerous but preventable illnesses.
Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2021
