Why Use Measles and Rubella Vaccine

Launch of measles and rubella vaccine

The Union Health and Family Welfare Minister launched a vaccine to protect against measles and rubella in Khasra Rubella Vaccination Campaign at a function organized in Bengaluru on 5th February, 2017.

The first phase of measles and rubella (MR) vaccine will be started in five States / UTs in Karnataka, Puducherry, Tamil nadu, Goa and Lakshadweep. Where vaccination is targeted for about 3.6 million children.

This joint vaccine of measles and rubella is currently replaced by two doses given for measles which are given to children on 9-12 months and 16-24 months with single dose.

After this campaign, this vaccine of measles rubella will be included under regular immunization program.

Only one dose of 9-15 years of age will be given to each child once, whether or not he has taken vaccine / rubella vaccine in the past. With the same dose of joint vaccine, it is possible to prevent both measles and rubella diseases.

Under this campaign, 41 crore children will be included in the entire country. Which is the biggest goal of any campaign.

Along with states and non-governmental organizations, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, Lions Club, Gates Foundation etc. are also collaborators in the Khasra and Rubella (MR) joint vaccination campaign.

Under the regular immunization program, only 56% children of 9-12 months in 2000 were given first dose of measles vaccine, whereas this figure reached 87% in 2015.

Between 2000 and 2015, there was a decrease of 51% in measles deaths in India.

In the year 2010, the second dose of measles vaccine in India was also included in the regular immunization program.

This will be the first time in the country when any vaccine of Rubella will be included in 'Universal Immunization Program'.

What is rubella 

Rubella is also called 'German measles'. This is an infectious disease caused by rubella virus. Usually its symptoms are mild. Symptoms are found in children, such as fever, headache, spreading rashes, and back in the head or neck lymph nodes. It spreads through the discharge of the nose and pharynx of the infected person or when exposed to the patient directly.

Rubella infection in pregnant women can be due to fetal death or congenital disorders, it is called (CRS: Congenital Rubella Syndrome). No specific treatment of rubella is available, although vaccination can prevent this disease.

What is the universal immunization program (UP)

The Universal Commentary Program was launched in the year 1985. The universal criticism program of India is the largest campaign in the world in terms of the amount of vaccine used, the number of beneficiaries, the session of vaccination and geographical spread and the diversity of the regions. Under this program vaccine vaccine was introduced in the year 1985 and supplementation program of vitamin A was added in the year 1990.