Sri Lanka Launches Special Measles Vaccination Programme
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The Ministry of Health of Sri Lanka has launched a special measles vaccination programme from Monday until November 9. This programme will target selected districts in response to recent cases of measles. Hasitha Tissera, a senior epidemiologist at the Ministry of Health, announced that the programme will be conducted in 12 districts across the country.
According to Tissera, although Sri Lanka successfully eliminated measles, cases were reported in certain areas last year. Xinhua news agency reported that this program will specifically target young people who, for various reasons, did not receive the full dose of the measles vaccine.
The Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine was introduced into Sri Lanka’s immunisation programme in 1984. A second dose was added in 2001 to strengthen immunity levels. In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Sri Lanka measles-free. However, a global drop in immunisation between 2020 and 2022 impacted many countries, thereby, leading to a resurgence of measles cases and this included Sri Lanka.
What is Measles?
Measles is a viral disease that causes fever and a rash. It’s highly contagious and spreads through the air when a person with measles talks, coughs or sneezes.
WHO says that measles can affect anyone but is most common in children. Measles infects the respiratory tract and then spreads throughout the body. “Being vaccinated is the best way to prevent getting sick with measles or spreading it to other people. The vaccine is safe and helps your body fight off the virus.”
What is the MMR vaccine?
The measles vaccine is administered primarily through the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. It stimulates the body’s immune system to develop immunity without causing the disease itself. The vaccine offers protection against the highly contagious measles virus.
The MMR vaccine offers robust protection against three serious viral infections; measles, mumps, and rubella. Measles, in particular, is highly contagious and can lead to severe complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, and death, especially in young children and immunocompromised individuals. Using this vaccine prevents outbreaks and reduces the risk of transmission.
The MMR vaccine can also help prevent the spread of mumps and rubella, both of which can cause morbidity and complications. Mumps can lead to swelling of the salivary glands, meningitis, deafness and even sterility in males if it affects the testicles. Rubella on the other hand, when contracted during pregnancy, can result in congenital rubella syndrome, leading to birth defects such as deafness, blindness, heart defects and developmental delays in infants.
Therefore, the MMR vaccine can help prevent the spread of contagious diseases and protect people from serious complications and long-term health issues caused due to measles, mumps, and rubella infections.
(With inputs from IANS)
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