Two doses of the measles-rubella vaccine provide about 95 percent protection for infants
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A single dose of measles-rubella vaccine provides about 85 percent protection, and this protection rate reaches about 95 percent when children receive two doses of the vaccine. When children are not vaccinated on time, the lack of protection silently increases; And by the time we realize it, the disease has spread far and wide. Rana Flowers, the representative of UNICEF in Bangladesh, said these things in a statement given on the occasion of the launch of the nationwide measles-rubella vaccination program.
This statement was made today, Monday. In a statement, Rana Flowers said, “This vaccination program will help us ensure that such situations do not happen again.”
The government has started the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccination program across the country from April 20 today. Under the program, all children between the ages of 6 and 59 months will receive the measles-rubella vaccine free of charge—even if previously vaccinated, all children in this age group will be required to receive the vaccine again. Children in this age group are at the highest risk of infection and serious illness.
In this context, Rana Flowers said, ‘UNICEF is working hand in hand with the Government of Bangladesh; Assisting in planning, organizing and mobilizing the community, vaccine supply and cold chain management, communication and field program implementation. We thank GAVI, The Vaccine Alliance, for their important role in ensuring vaccine supply and making this life-saving program possible at scale. We are also grateful to the US Government for providing valuable support in strengthening and expanding this immunization effort.
Rana Flowers said, “With the tireless work of our partners and the health workers of the country, we are ensuring that vaccination reaches all parts of the country, including remote and underprivileged areas.” The statement mentioned that the objective of the ongoing vaccination program is to ensure vaccination for every child and to cover at least 95 percent of children. It said, “We have seen good progress since the start of the emergency immunization program on April 5. As of April 19, nearly 1.6 lakh children—73 percent of the target—have already been vaccinated.’
The UNICEF representative in Bangladesh praised the government for taking immediate steps to deal with the crisis. He said, ‘I appreciate the Bangladesh government for the immediate initiative and sincerity shown by the government to deal with the crisis by starting the urgent emergency vaccination program initially under the leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister and the Hon’ble Minister of Health and Family Welfare and in a short period of time now to start vaccination on a large scale across the country. The leadership needed to save lives.’
Rana Flowers pointed out that the country is moving towards controlling the current situation by vaccinating every vaccine. “Our goal is clear—to reach more than 1.78 million children, to make at least 95 percent of children immunized and to ensure that no child is deprived of immunization,” he said.
Stating that the ongoing immunization program across the country is not the only goal of combating disease outbreaks and conditions, Rana Flowers said, “Instead, this program has created an opportunity to fill the gaps in child protection, cover every unvaccinated child and revive strong child protection at the community level.” Vaccinations save lives. We see evidence every day of the protection that vaccines provide, and we also see the price that children pay when they are not vaccinated.’
Source: Prothom Alo Bangla
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