Tamil Nadu

State seeks additional round of measles vaccination

MADURAI: The Tamil Nadu government has written to the Centre seeking its support to have additional round of measles vaccination for all children as cases were continuing to be reported every year.

This additional dose would be made a routine affair. Every child will have two rounds of measles vaccination. The proposal has already been submitted to the Union Health Ministry, according to G. K. Durairaj, Joint Director (Immunisation), Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine.

Talking to The Hindu here on Thursday, he said that vaccine efficacy was found to be only 85 per cent and hence measles was still prevalent among children. “Right now, the vaccine is administered to a child after completing nine months of age. But we want to have an additional dose so that the chances of measles are completely eliminated in the State,” Dr. Durairaj said.

He was here to conduct a review meeting with district health officials on the implementation of Japanese Encephalitis (brain fever) vaccination under way in Madurai, Tiruvarur and Tiruchi districts.

The Health Department will soon gear up for another phase of Pulse Polio Immunisation (PPI) to all children up to five years of age during January and February.

Dr. Durairaj said the Centre would announce the dates after a preparatory meeting in December. He stressed that the Health Department had put in place a comprehensive system for complete immunisation by adequately focussing on migratory population/nomadic groups. The department was making sure that children in nomadic groups did not miss immunisation.

A. Palanichamy, Deputy Director of Health Services (Madurai district), said the health machinery was ready to implement anti-tobacco measures from October 2 in coordination with other government departments.

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