Around 12 lacs children have been vaccinated during 9 days in the state under the ‘National Measles Rubella Vaccination Campaign’ which was aimed at reducing the childhood mortality due to Measles and addressing the birth defects due to Rubella in the country. It was disclosed by the Minister for Health & Family Welfare Department Mr. Brahm Mohindra in a press communiqué released here today.Mr. Mohindra said that the MR Vaccination campaign is intended to immunize around 73 Lacs children between the age of 9 months to 15 years in the state. He said that till date nearly 12 lakhs children have been vaccinated with the MR vaccine so far. He further said that unfortunately a fake social media campaign conducted by some anti-social elements which had detrimental effects and created doubts in the minds of parents regarding MR vaccination and quality of vaccine. He said that the Health Department has successfully countered the negative onslaught on the MR Campaign and brought home the crude fact that the vaccine has been duly approved by WHO and provided by the Government of India.
“A counter social, print and electronic media campaign was also commenced by the Health and Family Welfare Department to point out the major benefits of MR vaccine and the healthy purpose of the campaign”, he added. He said that this noble initiative taken by the health department led to an extensive improvement in the coverage in all districts of state under the National MR Campaign.Health Minister further said that a team consisting of State Health Officials, WHO representatives and representative from MoHFW, Government of India visited Bathinda and other district of state to ascertain the cause of so many AEFI (Adverse Events Following Immunisation) cases. He said that in preliminary investigation it was noticed that most of the cases in Bathinda and other districts were not related to MR vaccine. He said that for the satisfaction of the parents, samples of used and unused vials of vaccine and syringes were taken from different areas of District Bathinda and sent to CRI, Kasauli for further investigation. He said that since some cases had reported with vomiting and diarrhea in Bathinda where water samples were also collected to check the quality of water supplied in specific areas.He further added that the state was fully committed to provide best healthcare to it's children and would make every effort to protect them from vaccine preventable diseases.