MR-vaccine campaign to target 10 million Children

The Government with support from the World Health Organisation (WHO) is set to conduct a nationwide campaign for Measles-rubella (MR) immunisation, given for free for preventing both measles and rubella diseases.

The campaign which is scheduled to officially launch in Morogoro, will be held from 26 to 30 September 2019, targeting over 10 million children in Tanzania aged below 5. This includes those who are yet to be vaccinated against the diseases and those who have already gotten the MR vaccine during their normal clinic sessions.

“Irrespective of their measles-rubella vaccination status, all children aged below 5 will be vaccinated again. The extra dose will boost their immunity for better control of the diseases,” says Dr William Mwengee, Immunization Advisor from World Health Organisation (WHO), and Tanzania in an interview with Your Health.

He adds, “The aim is to build more immunity to those who received routine doses (booster) and vaccinate those who have missed on the dose during routine vaccination sessions. The campaign will not interfere with other regular vaccines. ”

Thus, the government is encouraging parents and guardians to bring their children to get vaccinated against the diseases. The exercise will be conducted at the designated centres including the health facilities and some schools or village offices across the country.

In tandem with the campaign’s objectives, apart from the MR vaccine, another four million children aged 18 to 42 months are also targeted to be provided with the Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) for protection against Polio, says Dr William.

About the diseases

Speaking to Your Health, Dr Furaha Kyesi, the program officer for Immunization and Vaccine Development Programme from the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, says measles is a highly contagious disease caused by the measles virus.

“Initial symptoms of the measles disease typically include fever, often greater than 40 °C (104 °F), cough, runny nose, and inflamed eyes,” says Dr Furaha.

Referring to the rubella disease, Dr Furaha highlighs the disease is caused by the rubella virus.

“This disease is often mild with half of the people not realising that they are infected. There is no specific treatment for rubella but the disease is preventable by vaccination,” she adds.

Moreover, Dr Furaha explains that the targeted children during the forthcoming campaign will be given just a single dose (booster) for MR vaccine and IPV vaccine (some).

She has allayed fears that no immunised child will suffer from side effects.

“I acknowledge these vaccines are given in intervals between 9 to 18 months, but during the campaign, the children will be given just one dose to boost their immunity against the diseases” elaborates Dr Furaha.

According to Dr Furaha at least 85 per cent of children aged below 5 who get vaccinated (first dose) against measles-rubella are 100 per cent protected, while 15 per cent of them are left unprotected hence, the second dose is recommended to ensure they are all protected.”

Reducing mortality rate

In order to ensure the forthcoming national measles-rubella campaign is successfully conducted, the government has distributed 71 vehicles to facilitate the implementation of the campaign under the National Immunization and Vaccine Development Programme.

The handing over ceremony of the vehicles to the programme leaders was graced by the health minister Ummy Mwalimu who called upon the regional and district medical officers to cooperate with the programme officials to ensure the exercise is conducted smoothly and successful.

“The statistics indicate that 98 per cent of the children have been vaccinated against diseases.

This campaign will enable us to reach all the children especially and including those who were left behind during the regular immunisation sessions at clinics” said the minister.

The Minister further asserted that strengthening of immunisation coverage has helped in reducing the number of deaths in children aged below 5 in the country from 112 out of 1, 000 live births to 67.