KAMPALA – The Ministry of Health (MoH) has on August 2 revealed that from September 25-29, 2019, it will carry out a Mass Measles and Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign countrywide for all children aged 9 months to 14 years.
According to the ministry, the Measles and Rubella Vaccine is a 2 in 1 vaccine.
“This campaign is aimed at; Stopping the current Measles and Rubella outbreaks and subsequently introducing the Rubella vaccine into the Routine Immunization Schedule,” reads a post on the ministry’s social media pages.
“During the same period, all children under 5 years will receive a booster dose of the oral Polio vaccine as Uganda is still at risk of importation of the Wild Polio Virus due to our porous borders and pockets of unimmunized children.” Reads an excerpt from the ministry.
Vaccination will be done at designated health facilities, schools and vaccination posts countrywide.
“Ministry of Health calls upon all parents, guardians, school authorities and leaders to cooperate with the health workers and ensure every child within the above age bracket is immunized,” reads an excerpt from the post.
The MOH on Thursday, July 18 received the last batch of the 20 million doses of Measles-Rubella vaccines at Entebbe Airport.
According to the Ministry of Health, the vaccines were approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and are provided free of charge, the drugs are both safe and effective.
The Director Clinical Services in the MoH Dr Olaro Charles in his remarks said the total cost of the Measles-Rubella campaign is USD 19M, cost of vaccines and other logistics is $6.3M while operations- cost $12.7M.
Mr. Olaro reminded school headteachers that they need to ask for immunization cards from parents upon admission in the school.
“I wish to inform school headteachers that they are mandated by the Immunization Act 2017 to request for child vaccination cards at school enrollment to verify pupils’ vaccination status at school entry,” Olaro said.
