Rubella vaccine tested safe, health department continues drive

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The allergy occurred on a few children after administering the rubella vaccine two weeks ago had led to the pulling back of two batches of the vaccine by the health department.

However, the testing of the vaccine samples done at the central drug-testing lab at Kasauli has proved that there was nothing harmful in the vaccine. Hence the health department has decided to distribute the vaccine batches which was temporarily pulled back from the distribution.

"The incident was reported two weeks when a few children less than ten in numbers had reported rashes in two districts. Hence it was decided to pull back the batches of the vaccine. But the vaccination drive in the schools continued with the remaining batches," said Dr R Ramesh, director of health service.

He said that the a few samples of the vaccine from these batches were send for testing and it has been approved safe for administering to the children. It was also found that from the same vial about ten children were given the vaccination and only children had developed allergy.

The health and social justice department had launched the vaccination in 2013 as part of a larger initiative to prevent childhood disabilities. It was targeting girls from classes VII to XII. The health department had received severe resistance while launching this initiative and later it was decided not to go for any forcible vaccination among the girl students.

"Such criticisms and reports against immunisation or vaccination has become a major break in the state which is badly affecting the initiatives of the health department. It is becoming a trend to oppose any public health initiative in the state," said the director of health service.

Already the health department is facing stiff resistance in Malappuram where diphtheria cases are being reported in large numbers. The people are not ready to support the immunisation drive launched by the government. Hence the health department is of the fear that any similar campaign against rubella vaccine would also lead to severe set back for another public health initiative.
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