Measles Vaccination Campaign Launched in High-Risk Districts

Kathmandu. The Ministry of Health and Food Hygiene has launched a measles vaccination campaign in districts with a high risk of measles. Dr. Abhiyan Gautam, Chief of the Child Health and Vaccination Branch of the Department of Health Services, said that a 'Measles Epidemic Response Vaccination Campaign' is being conducted in nine districts where measles has been detected.

He said that the 'Measles Epidemic Response Vaccination Campaign' is being conducted in Jajarkot, Surkhet, Kalikot, Mahottari, Baglung, and Siraha. The campaign will be conducted until this week. Similarly, the vaccination campaign has already been conducted in Sarlahi, while in Achham and Dailekh, only two cases of measles have been detected, so there was no immediate need to conduct a vaccination campaign, said Vaccination Branch Chief Dr. Gautam.

The vaccination campaign has been conducted among children aged six months to 15 years who are at high risk of measles, said Branch Chief Dr. Gautam. Vaccination has been given to the age group of six months to 20 years in Baglung and six months to 24 years in Jajarkot, he informed. He said that vaccination was given to the age group of 24 years in these two districts as measles was also seen in those above 15 years.

"Measles is a highly contagious disease. One infected person can spread the infection to up to 18 people. Therefore, efforts are being made to protect children and the community by rapidly conducting vaccination campaigns in areas where infection has spread," said Vaccination Branch Chief Dr. Gautam.