Community involvement crucial for Nagaland to achieve MR Elimination by Dec 2023: DoHFW

Kohima: Mop-up vaccinations to cover left-outs and drop-outs in State from 20th till 30th Nov

BY | Monday, 20 November, 2023

The Department of Health and Family Welfare (DoHFW), Government of Nagaland, has stressed that community involvement is crucial for creating awareness of the Measles Rubella vaccination as it affirmed its commitment to achieve MR elimination in the state by December 2023.

While stating that covering left-outs and drop-outs is a priority to ensure comprehensive vaccination, the Department highlighted that fear of side effects and lack of awareness were reasons for incomplete immunization. It said that advocacy efforts are underway to emphasize the importance of timely vaccination and informed that mop-up vaccinations in Nagaland will be conducted from 20th to 30th November 2023.

DoHFW therefore sought the support of allied departments, Faith-Based Organizations, Civil Society Organizations, Village Council Chairpersons, and various community groups to ensure all children under five receive their MR dose during the upcoming Mop-up round in Government Health Units. It also reminding that all vaccines are available free of cost at all government health facilities.

MR vaccines are administered as a 2-dose vaccine at 9 months (MR1) and at 16-24 months (MR2). For children who miss either dose, the vaccine can be given until the child is five years old. The MR Elimination Drive focuses on children aged nine months to five years for the MR1 dose and those who missed the MR2 dose.

In Nagaland, MR Elimination drives were executed in April-May and August-September where 96% coverage has been reported for MR1 and 92% for MR2. DoHFW added that inter-district variations exist, emphasizing the goal of achieving over 95% coverage in all districts of Nagaland.

Read more: Health Ministry refutes media reports that says 11 lakh children missed first dose of measles vaccine in 2022

You cannot copy content of this page