MR vaccination drive from May 1

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 26

The Department of Health and Family Welfare will hold a measles-rubella (MR) vaccination campaign from May 1.

Health Minister Brahm Mohindra said all children, aged from 9 months to less than 15 years, would be covered under the campaign, which was part of the national plan to eradicate the diseases by 2020. He informed that an estimated 75 lakh children would be vaccinated over a period of 4-6 weeks.

The drive will first be conducted in schools and later in community through outreach sessions.

In a press conference Mohindra said 5,200 vaccination teams and 1,733 supervisors would cover about 29,000 schools. Nearly 59,000 vaccination sessions would be conducted in the state.

About 5,200 vaccinators, nearly 19,000 accredited social health activists (ASHAs) and 25,000 anganwadi workers have been trained for the drive.