MR vaccination drive: Health Dept may extend deadline

Tribune News Service

Patiala, May 25

The Patiala Health Department is likely to extend the deadline for the ambitious Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccination drive as the initiative did not got the expected results in the district where an ‘anti-vaccination campaign’ was reportedly underway.

Only six days are left to meet the deadline as the month-long campaign will conclude on May 31. However, the Civil Surgeon said: “Patiala is among the top districts in the state. With over 62 per cent coverage of the target, the Health Department has achieved a great success.”

The district Civil Surgeon, Harish Malhotra, told The Tribune that the Health Department was ready to extend the deadline of the drive, if necessary, but would take a final call only after examining the latest district figures in this regard. Though the department is targeting 4,91,000 children, belonging to the age group of 9 months to 15 years under the initiative, only around 3 lakh children (62 per cent) could be 

covered across the district until Friday.

The Civil Surgeon said awareness drives and campaigns had been intensified in areas where the vaccination rate is registered low and would try to bring maximum children of the targeted group under the initiative. A total of 62 per cent children (3,02,994) has been vaccinated in Patiala until Friday.

Those children who could not take vaccination from their schools could avail the same at nearby government hospitals, including primary health centres, he said.

In the ongoing outreach programme of the measles-rubella vaccination campaign, the Civil Surgeon had requested the PRTC Managing Director to provide assistance in spreading the awareness. In the coming days, announcements will be made regarding the awareness of the Measles-Rubella campaign at all PRTC bus stations in the state.

Campaign to conclude on May 31

Only six days are left to meet the deadline as the month-long campaign will conclude on May 31. However, the Civil Surgeon said: “Patiala is among the top districts in the state. With over 62 per cent coverage of the target, the Health Department has achieved a great success.”