Three-phase vaccination week to be held against measles and rubella in Dehradun
PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
A special vaccination week will be organised in three phases in Dehradun district to eliminate measles and rubella. This plan was discussed in the meeting of the district task force for the Measles and Rubella (MR) Eradication Campaign 2026, chaired by additional district magistrate KK Mishra.
Dehradun Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Manoj Kumar Sharma outlined the main objective of the task force- to eradicate measles and rubella from the district by 2026. The Central government has prepared a roadmap for the successful operation and implementation of this campaign, which includes vaccinating children up to the age of five who have not yet received the measles and rubella vaccinations. Additionally, patients in the community who exhibit red rashes and fever will be identified and treated, he said.
Additional CMO/District Immunisation Officer Dr Dinesh Chauhan emphasised that the measles and rubella vaccine protects children from life-threatening diseases. It also creates a protective barrier, safeguarding children from serious health issues caused by measles, like diarrhoea and pneumonia, while boosting overall immunity. To eliminate measles and rubella, a special vaccination week will be organised in three phases. The first phase will be from from July 21 to 31, the second phase from August 19 to 29 and the third phase from September 18 to 29. During this special vaccination week, all beneficiaries who have missed regular vaccinations will be immunised.The MR vaccine is administered in two doses- the first dose (MR1) is given to infants at nine months of age and the second dose (MR2) is given between 16 to 24 months.
