34 lakh children to get measles vaccines in month-long drive: Minister

The government will launch a special measles vaccination drive from 26 September bringing under coverage children who missed doses or those who have recently reached the minimum eligibility age of six months.

The campaign will continue for more than a month till 31 October, said Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain at a press conference held at the ministry office at the Secretariat on Sunday.

He said children aged six months to below five years who did not receive the vaccine or were missed during the ongoing measles-rubella campaign would be identified and vaccinated under the programme.

According to BSS, the minister also outlined various measures the government has adopted to control infections and protect children following the outbreak of measles in the country this year, Sakhawat said the measles-rubella vaccination campaign has been conducted in phases since April, and around 19.83 million children have received the vaccine so far.

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He said initiatives have also been taken to strengthen routine immunisation and ensure necessary treatment for children affected by measles.

“The government has already formulated the National Guidelines on Measles-Rubella Clinical Case Management. Health workers have also been trained in this regard,” the minister said.

He said children who have been missed from vaccination would be listed and arrangements would be made to vaccinate them.

“Through this process, efforts will also be made to identify children who are outside the existing lists or previous campaign data,” Sakhawat added.

As part of the special programme, health workers and volunteers will visit households to verify the vaccination status of children, he said.

Asked what would be done if children above five years of age were found to have measles, the minister noted that the task is difficult due to eligibility regulations but added: “Whatever the situation, we are trying to cover everyone.”

Regarding the dengue and measles situation, he said the government has made all necessary preparations to provide treatment for both diseases and there is no shortage of saline.