Srinagar:Around 43.33 lakh children between the age group of 9 months to 15 years will be vaccinated under Rubella Vaccination (MRV) Campaign in Jammu and Kashmir from September 1.

Deputy Commissioner, Immunization, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GOI, Dr Pradeep Haldar said that Measles Rubella Vaccination (MRV) Campaign will be launched in the state under which 43.33 lakh children of the age group of 9 months to 15 years age will be vaccinated.

Giving detailed information, he said the campaign will start from September 1. “The campaign will be conducted for a period of 6 weeks, starting with students of all the government and private schools, Darul uloom’s, Monastery schools, and Madrasas,” he said.

He said the first target group will also include physically handicapped, mentally challenged children and students of blind schools while as in second phase religious heads, community heads would be involved to make it a successful campaign through outreach sessions.

He said that rubella vaccine is introduced in India’s Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) for the first time. He said after the completion of campaign, Measles-Rubella Vaccine will be introduced in Routine Immunization and will be part of UIP Jammu and Kashmir replacing the currently given two doses of measles vaccine at 9-12 months and 16-24 months. The vaccination will be provided free of cost and will be given through auto disposable syringe.

He said that 12 ministries, NGO’s, Professional bodies, Home Affairs, Information and Public Relation, Labour and Employment, Housing and Urban development, civil Aviation, Road transport, Defence, Railways, Sports and Youth Services, Panchayati Raj and Tribal development besides Education, ICDS and other convergence departments have been involved to make this campaign a success to eradicate the Measles– Rubella from the country.