Seraikela: A one day workshop on measles and rubella vaccination was organized at Seraikela community building on Thursday under the aegis of District Public Relations Department. It was jointly inaugurated by the Deputy Commissioner of Seraikela-Kharsawan Chhavi Ranjan and Nagar Panchayat president Meenakshi Patnayak.
In his address, the DC said the vaccination drive would be launched on 26th July and would be run for five weeks in three stages. In the first phase covering the first two weeks, school children would be immunized.
Thereafter, in the second stage, children at anganbari centres would be vaccinated. In the third stage, those left out in the first two stages would be vaccinated, he said.
The DC said that the measles and rubella vaccination drive was being launched across the country for the first time. Children of age nine to 15 years would be vaccinated under this campaign. Those children having undergone vaccination for measles and rubella will be immunized again, he said.
Sources said a total of 3,84,093 children would be administered the said vaccine in Seraikela-Kharsawan.
The Nagar Panchayat president said parents, especially women, need to be made aware of the importance of vaccination. Sevikas and sahiyas should visit door-to-door to create awareness among the masses, she said.
Civil Surgeon Dr Priya Ranjan said rubella is an incurable disease which can best be prevented. He said vaccination was the only effective method to prevent incidence of the disease. Out of the total 3,84,093 children, 70 per cent go to school, he said.