Maharashtra: 90 per cent children given MR vaccine

Around 90 per cent of the children have been covered under the measles and rubella (MR) vaccination campaign across the city by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's public health department. While the campaign will end by March 30, the BMC is trying to cover as many children as possible under this campaign. Further, the vaccination with be available at public health centres after March 30 but won't be covered under the campaign.

Till the first week of February this year, around 75 per cent to 80 per cent of the children were covered in the city. Dr Santosh Revankar, joint executive health officer from BMC's public health department, said, "The first phase of the campaign will end by March 30. Few of the schools have requested to start vaccination in their school in the first week of April. Almost 90 per cent of the children across the city have been covered through this campaign. After the campaign ends, the vaccination will be available in health centres too."

Dr Revankar added, "Besides schools, the BMC started approaching the small communities in the city which will help to reach out as many children as possible." The civic body had an estimated 29 lakh children between the age bracket of 9 months to 15 years." With an aim to support the measles and rubella (MR) vaccination campaign in the state of Maharashtra, the campaign was initiated November 26 in the state. While the vaccination is meant for the children from nine months to 15 years of age, there has been a misconception among the public due to which they fear to give vaccination to their children.