BMC Offers Free Vaccination To Curb Rubella And Measles

Mumbai, 9th November 2022: For protection against measles and rubella, the first dose of vaccination is necessary after nine months of age and the second dose after 16 months of age. Both these doses are available free of charge at Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Health Centres, Dispensaries, General Hospitals and Medical Colleges. On behalf of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation administration, an appeal is being made to all parents to complete the vaccination of their nine-month and 16-month-old children. Meanwhile, additional vaccination sessions are being conducted in F/North, H/East, L, M/East and P/North divisions due to increased incidents of Measles/Rubella among children aged zero to five years. It is requested to cooperate with the municipal administration by completing the immunization of children.

The vaccination program is conducted regularly in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation area. In this vaccination program, children in the age group of zero to two years are protected from diseases like polio, jaundice, tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, measles, rubella, mumps and rotavirus-diarrhoea, pneumonia, and pregnant women are vaccinated against tetanus. India has become polio-free since 2014 due to the said routine vaccination and pulse polio vaccination campaign. Also, tetanus has been eradicated in newborns. Similarly, progress is being made towards the eradication of measles and rubella by December 2023.

However, in the last few weeks, there has been an increase in cases of measles/rubella among children in the F/North Division, H/East Division, L Division, M/East Division and P/North Division in Mumbai. It has also been found that one child has died due to measles. Correspondingly, the suspected patients of measles and rubella are being surveyed by going door to door through health workers in these departments. Blood and urine samples of suspected patients are being taken for examination. Out of the total number of measles cases in the survey, about 10 percent of children were found to be partially vaccinated, and 25 per cent of children were unvaccinated.

In measles, the child gets a fever, cold, cough and red rash on the body. Complications from this disease can be serious in children who are partially vaccinated and unvaccinated, like lung inflammation (Bronchopneumonia), diarrhoea, and B=brain infection (Encephalitis). If a pregnant woman is infected with rubella, it can cause abnormalities in the fetus. Children who are fully vaccinated are unlikely to develop such complications.

A similar increase in the number of patients has been observed elsewhere in Maharashtra. Therefore, the Public Health Department of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation kindly appeals to the citizens of Mumbai that the first dose of Measles and Rubella should be given to the child after the completion of nine months and the second dose after the completion of 16 months. Also, additional vaccination sessions are being organized in the above-mentioned departments. However, all the citizens are requested to take advantage of this and complete 100 percent vaccination of the child and cooperate with the health workers for the survey.