MR vaccination drive: Health Dept fails to achieve target

Tribune News Service

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Amritsar, June 18

The district Health Department has failed to achieve its target to cover 6.5 lakh children under the measles-rubella vaccination drive.

Of the total children, over 5 lakh have been vaccinated for measles and rubella so far.

Civil Surgeon Dr Hardeep Singh Ghai said the department had achieved its 77 per cent target.

“Now, the drive will focus on identifying the children who have not been vaccinated so far. The parents will be motivated to bring their children for the vaccination. A mop-up round will be conducted in schools after the summer break,” he said.

“Rumours had put an impact on the drive during its initial days, but now most of the parents are willing to get their children vaccinated,” the Civil Surgeon added.

“It is the responsibility of the parents to get their children vaccinated as every year around 50,000 children in the country die of measles,” said Dr Ghai.

He said residents could also call on a toll-free phone number — 104 — to get any information about the drive.

Officials of the Health Department said camps were being organised for the benefit of parents.