Health Ministry launches 'Measles Rubella' vaccination campaign

Health Ministry yesterday launched Measles Rubella vaccination campaign in the country at a function in Bengaluru.The campaign against these two diseases will start from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Goa and Lakshadweep, covering nearly 3.6 crore children.

Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Faggan Singh Kulaste launched this initiative at a function in Bengaluru, Speaking on the occasion, Mr Kulaste stated that the centre is committed to eradicating Measles and Rubella from the country. 

He said, this will be taken up in a mission mode and rolled out in partnership with States and NGOs. The Minister urged parents, caregivers, community leaders, teachers, anganwaadi workers and other frontline health workers to become the active



part of this campaign.

The Measles and Rubella (MR) campaign targets around 41 crore children across the country, the largest ever in any campaign. All children aged between 9 months and less than 15 years will be given a single shot of MR- vaccination. The vaccine will be provided free- of- cost across the states. Measles vaccine is currently provided under Universal Immunization Programme.However, rubella vaccine will be a new addition. Measles is a deadly disease and one of the important causes of death in children. In 2015 measles killed an estimated around 49 thousand children under-5 years in the country. Rubella is generally a mild infection, but has serious consequences if infection occurs in pregnant women, causing congenital rubella syndrome.