Daijiworld Media Network - Gautam Budh Nagar
Gautam Budh Nagar, Feb 18: A special measles-rubella (MR) vaccination campaign commenced in Gautam Budh Nagar on February 16 and will continue until February 27, health officials said on Tuesday. The drive aims to cover students from Classes 1 to 5 in both government and private schools across the district.
Officials from the health department stated that vaccination sessions are being conducted within school premises to ensure wider coverage and convenient access for students and parents. The initiative forms part of the Uttar Pradesh government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen immunity against measles and rubella — highly contagious viral diseases that primarily affect children.
If left unchecked, measles and rubella can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, diarrhoea, ear infections and encephalitis (brain inflammation). In severe cases, measles can prove fatal. Rubella infection may also cause arthritis and, if contracted during pregnancy, can result in congenital rubella syndrome in newborns, according to public health guidelines.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Narendra Kumar said the campaign is aimed at closing immunity gaps among children. “The objective is to ensure that no eligible child is left out. Children will be administered an additional dose of the MR vaccine during the campaign. The vaccine is safe and is being provided free of cost,” he said.
District health authorities have informed schools in advance about their respective vaccination schedules. Coordination has been established with education officials and school managements to ensure smooth conduct of the sessions.
Officials emphasised that parental cooperation is vital for the success of the drive, as administering vaccines within schools helps minimise absenteeism. Dedicated health teams have been deployed across the district to supervise sessions and ensure adherence to vaccination protocols.
“Parents have been urged to ensure their children are present in school on the scheduled vaccination day and do not miss the dose,” the CMO said, adding that the department will closely monitor the campaign’s progress to ensure completion within the stipulated timeline.
Public health experts note that periodic mass immunisation campaigns play a crucial role in preventing outbreaks and strengthening community immunity, particularly in densely populated urban regions.