Only 79 per cent vaccination record in East Khasi Hills since the Measles Rubella Vaccination (MRV) campaign kickstarted

Measles Rubella Vaccination campaign in State

A Reporter

SHILLONG: The Measles Rubella Vaccination (MRV) campaign which kick-started in Meghalaya on October 1st last year, for children from nine months to 15 years was unsuccessful in East Khasi Hills (EKH) district as vaccination was recorded at only 79 per cent till date.

For the Measles Rubella Vaccination (MRV) campaign to be a success vaccination should cross the 95 per cent mark in the district. In India a total of 18, 108 case was reported and in Meghalaya, a total of 346 cases and majority of the cases were from East Khasi Hills District.

In 2019 there were 18 outbreaks in Meghalaya and maximum cases are from East Khasi Hills with 6 cases, East and West Jaintia Hills with 7 cases each.

Addressing reporters in the city on Monday, Dr. Robert R Marak District officer Measles Rubella Vaccination (MRV) campaign in EKH, said, “In Meghalaya 11.5 lack was the target for children between 9 months and 15 years however now more than five months have passed since the campaign has stated we couldn’t achieve this target especially in East Khasi hills.”

He pointed out that out of the 11 districts in East Khasi Hill only one district has not achieved the expected target of 95 percent of vaccination.

“10 districts in EKH have achieved the targets as we had to cover 95 percent coverage in order to stop the virus transmission and hence if we can’t achieve 95 percent the whole exercise would be futile,” he said.

He informed that in East Khasi Hills the target was 2.85 lack children however till today the campaign have covered only 2.24 lack children which stands at only 79 percent.

When asked, he said, “The reason for the MR campaign for being able to achieve its target is largely due to the refusal from parents in many pockets and communities in East Khasi Hills because of different reason like personal, social and religious believes.”

In this connection, Dr. Robert R Marak appealed to all the parent of these children who have yet to receive the MR vaccination to allow their children to get the vaccine as it will help the children and also the community to be protected from the virus.

“Most of the new cases are happening with children which has yet to receive the vaccine,” he said.

Also read: Meghalaya news