Government to conduct measles, rubella vaccination
Dr Charles Olaro, the Director Clinical Services in the Ministry of Health (R) receives the consignment of measles and rubella vaccine at Entebbe International Airport on July 18, 2019. PHOTO BY PAUL ADUDE
What you need to know:
- Mr Dan Kimosho, the public relations officer at National Medical Store (NMS) said the vaccines will be tracked in all the schools to ensure proper distribution.
Government will conduct a nationwide catch-up measles and rubella campaign targeting children aged between nine months and 15 years starting September 25 to 29, this year.
The Director Clinical Services at the ministry of Health Dr Charles Olaro said Thursday that the campaign is aimed at eliminating measles and rubella disease in the country.
“The consignment brings to total in stock of the rubella and measles vaccine to 20,299,000 million doses and for the campaign of which 871,400 doses will be supplied after the campaign. The cost of the logistics is $6.3 million (about Shs23 billion) whereas the cost of the operations is $12.7 million (about Shs47 billion). This brings the total cost to $19 million (Shs 70 billion) paid by Gavi,” he told journalists on Thursday after receiving doses of combined measles and rubella vaccines at Entebbe International Airport ahead of the vaccination exercise in September.
Dr Olaro said Uganda National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (UNITAG) recommended the introduction of rubella vaccine into the routine immunization programme which will compel school head teachers through the Immunisation Act 2017 to ask for child vaccination cards at school enrolment to verify the pupils vaccination status before admission.
“If the children were not vaccinated, the head teachers are expected to liaise with the parents and ensure that they are vaccinated before being admitted to the school,” he said.
Mr Dan Kimosho, the public relations officer at National Medical Store (NMS) said the vaccines will be tracked in all the schools to ensure proper distribution.
Rubella, or German measles is a contagious disease caused by a virus. Most people who get rubella usually have a mild illness, with symptoms that can include a low-grade fever, sore throat, and a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.
