MR vaccination rate in Malappuram nearly 75 percent despite repeated protests

District medical officer (DMO) Dr K Sakeena announced the official’s decision continue with the vaccination programme and extend the campaign to December 23.
MR vaccination rate in Malappuram nearly 75 percent despite repeated protests
MR vaccination rate in Malappuram nearly 75 percent despite repeated protests
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Despite anti-vaccination campaigners continuing to cause hindrances to Measles-Rubella vaccination drive in Malappuram, district health officials in on Saturday said that the district marked a vaccination rate of 74.33% among children. 

The officials had kept the target population in the district at 11,99,957 children and authorities have managed to vaccinate 8,91,876 till date. The highest vaccination rates were recorded from Chungathara (92.05%) and Tirurangadi (92.85%) blocks. Meanwhile Kuttippuram (64.9%) and Valavannur (60.9%) recorded the lowest figures, reports TOI.

District medical officer (DMO) Dr K Sakeena is considering extending the campaign to December 23 and a decision regarding the same would be announced soon.

Last month a nurse who was among the team of medical staff carrying out an MR vaccination drive at a school in Malappuram, was attacked by anti-vaccination campaigners. A group of protesters barged into the school a little after 12 noon and manhandled Shyamala by twisting her hands. The team was conducting a drive at Athippatta GLP School in Edayoor panchayat.

The protesters had turned violent alleging that some of the children were administered vaccination without the consent of their parents. After repeated incidents, the district collector had come up with a clarification that a consent letter from parents is not mandatory for vaccinating a child. He had sought the help of youth organizations – including arts and sports clubs – to make the programme a success. 

The report added that the high court on Friday had rejected a petition filed by the PTA president of Kokkur higher secondary school seeking the withdrawal of the order issued by the collector to vaccinate children. Deputy DMO Dr R Renuka said that the campaign was a big success in last phase as authorities managed to vaccinate 12,407 children on Saturday alone. 

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