MRVC: Nagaland inching towards 100% coverage

Eastern Mirror Desk Dimapur, Nov. 21: Nagaland has successfully vaccinated a total of 4,35,346 children with Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine till Nov. 20, achieving a 97% coverage, according to Dr. Atoshe Sema, state immunisation officer from the directorate of Health and Family Welfare The department, which has been continuously vaccinating children at all health facilities since Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign (MRVC) was launched last month, is hopeful of 100% coverage by the time the extended campaign ends. It gave due credit to the Administration, Education, Social Welfare and other departments, NGOs, partner organisations, and front-line health workers for the success of the campaign during the review meeting with all the 11 district immunisation officers (DIOs) on Nov. 21. The department has urged the few remaining resistant families/villages, especially in Phek (89% MR coverage) and Zunheboto (93% MR coverage) to vaccinate their children at the earliest. “The overwhelming immunisation numbers and co-operation received from the communities till date speaks for itself that the vaccine is totally safe and the benefits of being vaccinated far outweigh the misleading doubts and rumours,” said Dr Atoshe in a statement.