Telangana Health Dept. To Administer Special Dose Of MRCV For Children

Hyderabad, Nov 25 (Maxim News): The Telangana State Public Health Department will administer a special dose of Measles and Rubella Containing Vaccine (MRCV) for children between 9 months to 5 years in vulnerable areas across Telangana, following an advisory from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

A group of experts from the Health Ministry including WHO have urged the Indian States to administer a special dose of MRCV to children, after a significant outbreak of measles in six Indian States, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhan, Kerala and Maharashtra. The outbreak took place in areas that were predominantly unvaccinated or the coverage of MRCV vaccines average.

A rapid rise in the number of cases and some mortality due to Measles has also been observed in Mumbai and other districts of Maharashtra. Considering administering one additional special dose of MRCV to all children in vulnerable areas, this dose would be in addition to the primary vaccination schedule of first dose at 9-12 months and second dose at 16-24 months, the Union health Ministry advisory said.

Every year, measles is known to surge in large numbers during November to March, annually, hence, an active fever and rash surveillance mechanism needs to be strengthened for early case identification. States should take head count survey of all children aged 6 months to 5 years in vulnerable outbreak areas to facilitate full MRCV coverage in an accelerated manner, the advisory said. (Maxim News)

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