Ministry Declares War on Mumps, Measles, Rubella
Added On : 17th September 2011
RIYADH: The Ministry of Health is launching a national campaign for immunization against measles, rubella and mumps on Saturday.The ministrys campaign is to be two-pronged creating awareness and inoculating the targeted group of people.
Though the campaign begins Saturday as planned, a formal launch of the program will be held in the presence of Education Minister Prince Faisal bin Abdullah and Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah at the Health Ministry headquarters in the capital on Sunday, ministry spokesman Dr. Khalid Al-Mirghalani said on Friday.
Al-Mirghalani explained that the ministry will launch a countrywide awareness campaign during the first week and the vaccination will begin on Sept. 25.
The whole idea of the campaign, which begins on Saturday, is to instill in the public the importance of immunization and the need for the vaccine so that the targeted age groups have opportunities to immune themselves against these diseases, the spokesman said.
The vaccines will be given to all aged nine months to 24 years. The campaign will continue for five weeks. The vaccine will be given in two phases and the second phase will begin on Dec. 3, he added.
The Health Ministrys program is being carried out in cooperation with the Ministries of Education and Higher Education. Students from government, private and community primary, middle and secondary schools including civil and military educational institutions will be covered under this program.
During the second phase, Al-Mirghalani said, in addition to the beneficiaries covered under the first phase, students aged 19 to 24 studying in universities and colleges will be especially targeted.
The spokesman said the program is being carried out in an effort to implement the global commitment to remove measles by the year 2015 from the Eastern Mediterranean Region of the WHO.
Recent studies conducted by experts from the WHO and the US-based Center for Disease Control and Prevention reveal that there is a high incidence of these diseases among college students.
Al-Mirghalani said the ministry would also seek the support of the governors of the various regions for effective implementation of the campaign.
The ministry, quoting a specialist, said babies below nine months need not take the vaccine since infants derive immunity against measles from birth.
Others, who have high fever could postpone their vaccination to a later date, he said, adding that those who suffer from immune deficiency diseases such as HIV or similar congenital diseases and who are allergic to vaccines should avoid this vaccination.
There is no harm in repeating the vaccine if a person had taken it earlier, he said.
Measles is an acute viral contagious disease accompanied with fever, conjunctivitis, cough and red skin ulcers starting on the face and covering all parts of the body from third to seventh day of infection. Other common complications are middle ear inflammation, pneumonia, broncholaryngitis, diarrhea and encephalitis.
There is no specific antiviral therapy for measles and the basic treatment is necessary supportive therapy such as hydration and antipyretics and treating complications such as pneumonia.
