The special measles-rubella (MR) vaccination drive, which was rolled out across the state on January 9, has started or will start in some big schools in Kolkata this week.
The vaccination started at South Point on Monday and is scheduled to start at Modern High School for Girls later this week, officials of the schools said.
The single-dose vaccine, which builds immunity against measles and rubella, is being administered across schools in the state. All children between nine months and 15 years are eligible for the shot.
“The ongoing week will be key to achieving our target because the drive has started or will soon start in some of the big schools. By the end of Saturday we will have a good idea of how far we have progressed and whether we need more time to achieve our target,” said Partha Dey, district family welfare officer (Kolkata).
About 400 students took the shot at South Point on Monday. Students up to Class V will be vaccinated this week and the rest of the eligible students will get the dose next week, said an official of the school.
About 3,500 students have enrolled for the vaccine in the last five days. “Parents have been enquiring about the vaccine,” said Krishna Damani, trustee of the school.
Modern High School for Girls will start the vaccination drive later this week. A reminder mail listing the precautions will be sent to parents on Tuesday, said a school official.
“We want to make this drive a success. One has to understand that it is a social responsibility not only for the individual but for the community as well,” said Damayanti Mukherjee, principal of Modern High School for Girls.
The special vaccination drive against measles and rubella will continue for five weeks. Camps will be held at schools in the first three weeks.
Children who are not vaccinated in the first three weeks will be identified and vaccinated in the civic ward health clinics in the remaining two weeks.
About 100 schools in Kolkata are yet to agree to organise camps on their campuses, said a health official.
Measles and rubella are two vaccine-preventable diseases and it would be regrettable if people suffer from these diseases for not taking the vaccine, said Apurba Ghosh, pediatrician and director of the Institute of Child Health.
“I am receiving calls from parents about whether their wards should take the special MR dose. I have told them that they should,” said Ghosh.
“Even those who are already vaccinated against the two diseases should take the special dose. This is being given as part of a nationwide programme to reduce and eliminate these diseases.”
