The Ministry of Public Health announced the launch of a vaccination drive to immunize up to 7 million children nationwide against measles.
According to Sharafat Zaman Amar, the spokesperson for the health ministry, the measles vaccination campaign started on Saturday, November 26, and will continue for 10 a period of 10 days.
“A ten-day measles vaccination campaign has been started across the country,” the spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Health stated. “Around 7 million children under the age of 5 receive vaccinations as part of this campaign.”
The health official said that the lethal measles disease has claimed the lives of up to 259 children under the age of 5 and 23 children over the age of 5 in various parts of the nation this year alone.
The World Health Organization (WHO) also reported in late October that Afghanistan had 378 confirmed cases of measles-related deaths.
This is the 3rd nationwide vaccination drive against measles in the year 2022. Measles vaccination is quite effective at preventing measles, mumps, and rubella as well as their long-term complications.
The measles vaccine, the MMR, contains and administers all three vaccines, protecting children for life against measles and rubella.
A relevant WHO recommendation states that the measles vaccination is administered at nine months of age in regions where the disease is common, while in regions where the disease is not frequent, it should be given at 12 month of age.
