Despite all the initial hiccups, around 39 lakh children were administered Measles-Rubella vaccine in 28 days of launching of MR vaccination campaign in Punjab on May 1.

Stating this on May 29, Health and Family Welfare Minister Brahm Mohindra said that it was a herculean task for the department to drive home the very necessity of this MR vaccine amid echoic negative propaganda against MR vaccination. He said that whole health paraphernalia worked tirelessly to sensitise the public specially the parents and teachers to achieve the desired result by bringing children forward for the MR vaccination.

''Till date we are more than satisfied that MR vaccination is moving forward to achieve its target as on 28 days of the launching of this campaign we have been able to administer MR vaccination to around 39 lakhs children." He expressed confidence that campaign will get accelerated in the time to come and set target of MR vaccination would be achieved. The Minister said that the Health and Family Welfare department has rolled out the ‘MR Campaign’ on May 1, 2018 with the motive to vaccinate all children aged from 9 months to less than 15 years in all districts of state.

Congratulating teams, supervisors and higher authorities who are conducting the MR campaign in Punjab, Mr Mohindra stated that only the tireless efforts and enthusiasm of staff of Health, Education and Social Security departments have made it possible to vaccinate 39 lakhs children in short span of time. He said that earlier some fake viral videos about the MR campaign created doubts in the minds of parents even then people of state has expressed faith to get vaccinate their children under the MR campaign.

As part of National strategy to eliminate Measles and control Rubella in the country, all children aged between 9 months to less than 15 years would be vaccinated regardless of previous vaccination with MR/MMR or history of measles/rubella like illness. The vaccination is first being conducted in schools and later in community through outreach sessions.