Guj govt to launch measles vaccination campaign from July 16

The Gujarat government will launch a statewide vaccination campaign for eradication of measles and rubella from July 16.

The government intends to cover 1.6 crore children in the age group of nine months to 15 years in the five-week-long campaign, an official release said today.

"As per prime minister Narendra Modi's call to eradicate measles and rubella by 2020, a nationwide campaign of vaccination is going on. The vaccination programme has already been completed in 20 states, while it will begin in Gujarat, Jharkhand and Chattisgarh from July 16," it stated.

Gujarat aims for 100 per cent coverage of children by taking help of general people, NGOs and various government organisations, it said.

The government has requested the parents of those children who had taken measles vaccine in the past to participate in the vaccination drive.

"The government intends to cover all schools in the first two weeks after the launch of the campaign followed by all anganwadis in another two weeks. Rest of students will be covered in the last week of the campaign," it said.