Repeating measles-rubella vaccine not harmful to children, say doctors

PUNE: Paediatricians in the city have said repeating

measles-rubella

vaccination would not be harmful to children.

The Pune Municipal Corporation’s health department will conduct a vaccination drive in all schools from November 27, following a state government notification in this regard. This is part of a nationwide campaign to eliminate measles and rubella by 2020.

Accordingly, schools have issued a notification to parent that children between nine months and 15 years sold are to be covered under the programme. The drive will cover 10 lakh children from 1,300 schools and 933 anganwadis.

Many parents have expressed trepidation, however.

“I informed the school that the

vaccine

was already administered to our daughter. So the school asked us to get a letter from our paediatrician,” said Shantanu Mishra, a parent.

Paediatricians said a second dose will not harm the children and that the camp will only bring uniformity in vaccination. “This vaccine is a must ... Just like in case of pulse polio dose, an extra dose does not do any harm. So parents should give their consent to schools and ensure that their child is covered,” Jayant Joshi, a paediatrician, said.

He added that the vaccines were prepared specially for this campaign. “If children across the country are covered in the same batch, it would make surveillance of the disease easier. This is why the government is running a national programme,” Joshi said.

However, parents continue to have doubts. “So many kids will be vaccinated, so we have doubts about safety and post-care,” said Rashmi Shah.

Suman Rathi was in the same boat. “Our paediatrician gave us the nod, but we are still sceptical,” Rathi said.

Senior paediatrician Sharad Agarkhedkar, a member of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Pune chapter, assured parents that this would be safe. “Over 9 crore doses of the vaccine have already been given and no problem was reported from anywhere; there are no side effects. So parents should participate in the campaign without any doubts,” Agarkhedkar said.

The PMC said the campaign will be conducted for a month till all schools, anganwadis and maternity homes are covered.