|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 24 August 2003 |
 |
|
 |
News |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Measles vaccine for over 2m. schoolchildren by SHANIKA SRIYANANDA More than two million schoolchildren between the ages of 10 and 14, who had not received a single dose of the measles vaccine, will be immunised against the virus under the first phase of the 'Catch-up' Immunisation Programs (CIPs) on September 1. Measles is a deadly disease that can cause serious morbidity and complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis. Although the disease can be prevented easily through vaccination, it remains one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the South Asian region. With the introduction of the measles vaccine under an expanded program of immunization in 1984/85, the incidence of the disease reduced greatly. A relatively low incidence of measles had been recorded during the past decade in Sri Lanka, but an outbreak of the disease occurred in 1999 with over 15,000 victims reported to be infected with the virus. According to officials of the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Welfare, though the first dose of measles vaccine is given to children at the age of nine months, 10% of them are vulnerable to the disease at a later stage since their antibody levels decline over time and may not be sufficient to provide immunity. Poor immunisation coverage also resulted in the outbreak of the disease. The 'Catch-up Immunisation Programs' will be conducted over a period of six to eight weeks. It has been already commenced in the North-East province in July. The main objective is to prevent a measles outbreak. The officials said that the transmission of the virus could be easily prevented by vaccinating the age group most susceptible to measles. These 'catch up programs' will also provide a second opportunity for those who have already received a dose of the measles vaccine. The first school-based official campaign will be held at Ananda College, Colombo under the patronage of Health Minister P. Dayaratne on September 5. Schoolchildren from 150 schools will be immunised under this program. The second phase which targets to immunise youth between the ages of 16 to 20 years will commence next year. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
