AFP Photo / Elmer Martinez
At least six cases of measles were confirmed here over the last three months, as Ministry of Public Health is set to wrap-up its national immunisation campaign against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR). Some 160,000 children have been vaccinated as part of the campaign, which began here on October 17, the ministry announced yesterday.
In the last three months the Ministry has recorded six confirmed measles cases. The disease was detected in those who had not taken the MMR vaccine. The Ministry stressed that such cases could be prevented and measles be eliminated in Qatar if parents ensure their children take the two routine doses of MMR vaccination and also the booster dose that is given for free as part of the ongoing MMR campaign.
Early this year, 22 cases of measles were reported. However the incidence rate and number of measles cases in Qatar have dropped rapidly during the last few years, from 160 confirmed cases in 2012 to 18 cases in 2015.
As the campaign enters into sixth week, some 339 schools including 214 government schools and kindergartens and 125 private schools, have been covered.
Earlier, owing to the huge demand, the ministry had extended the campaign, which was to conclude on November 14, until November 30.
The vaccine is available at all the primary healthcare centres, and also at various health facilities including private clinics.
The Ministry has urged parents whose children are between the ages of 1 and 13 years and have not yet been vaccinated during the campaign, to get their children inoculated.
The Ministry has advised parents to avail of the booster dose before the end of the campaign to enhance and ensure the immunity, in children, against the highly contagious diseases. MoPH stressed the need for taking the booster dose, considering the fact that more cases are being still detected here.
Meanwhile, the Ministry also organised an open vaccination day at the Pakistan Education Center, on November 19, which saw huge attendance. A team from the Ministry inoculated children who had not taken the vaccine at schools or health facilities.
To signify the importance of vaccination against measles and vaccination campaigns, WHO, Unicef, CDC and GAVI in a joint press release on the stated that despite a 79% worldwide decrease in measles deaths between 2000 and 2015, nearly 400 children still die from the disease every day. The statement also stressed on the importance of mass vaccination campaigns clarifying that mass measles vaccination campaigns and a global increase in routine measles vaccination coverage saved an estimated 20.3 million young lives between 2000 and 2015.
In its commitment to ensure the wellbeing and safety of all children and in line with the vision and recommendations of these international organizations, MoPH has organised the current national MMR campaign.
