Question: Recently Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched Measles Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign in the country, the campaign against these two diseases will cover how many children five States/UTs?
(a) 2.5 Crore
(b) 3 Crore
(c) 3.5 Crore
(d) 3.6 Crore
Ans: (d)
Related facts:
- On 5 February 2017; Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched Measles Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign in the country at a function in Bengaluru.
- The campaign against these two diseases will start from five States/UTs (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Goa and Lakshadweep) covering nearly 3.6 crore target children.
- Following the campaign, Measles-Rubella vaccine will be introduced in routine immunization.
- It will replace the currently given two doses of measles vaccine, at 9-12 months and 16-24 months of age.
- The 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 Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccination irrespective of their previous measles/rubella vaccination status or measles/rubella disease status.
- MR vaccine will be provided free- of- cost across the states from session sites at schools as well as health facilities and outreach session sites.
- Measles is a deadly disease and one of the important causes of death in children. It is highly contagious and spreads through coughing and sneezing of an infected person.
- Rubella is generally a mild infection, but has serious consequences if infection occurs in pregnant women, causing congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), which is a cause of public health concern.
- In 2010, an estimated 1,03,000 children were born with CRS (congenital rubella syndrome) globally, of which around 47,000 children.
- Globally, in 2015, measles killed an estimated 1, 34,200 children—mostly under-5 years. In India, it killed an estimated 49,200 children.
Reference:
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=158067