Question : MR Vaccine

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware that Measles is one of the main causes behind child mortality in the country and if so, the details thereof along with number of children died due to this disease during the last three years, State-wise;

(b) whether the Government has launched a single shot Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine recently against Measles and Rubella disease and if so, the number of districts/children to be initially covered under this campaign;

(c) whether the project was to be initially rolled out in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Lakshadweep and Puducherry as a public health move implemented through schools and camps and if so, the details thereof along with the time by which the MR vaccine is likely to be introduced throughout the country;

(d) whether some parents have expressed their apprehension about re-vaccinating their children since they have already been vaccinated for Measles and Rubella earlier and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether the Government proposes to partner with State Governments and NGOs to eradicate Measles and Rubella from the country and if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House


STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 147* FOR 10TH MARCH, 2017

(a) As per WHO estimates, approximately 49,200 measles deaths were estimated from India for the year 2015. State wise estimates of deaths are not available from the estimates published by WHO.
(b) & (c) The Government has introduced single shot Measles–Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign, starting from February 2017 in five states/UTs, namely, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Goa and Lakshadweep. Nearly 3.48 crore children in the age group of 9 months to less than 15 years of age are expected to be covered in all the 70 districts of these five states/UTs. The vaccination will be provided to the children in health facilities and in outreach sessions including in schools. The MR campaign will cover the entire country in a phased manner.
(d) Some parents expressed their apprehension about re-vaccinating their children since they had already been vaccinated for Measles and Rubella earlier, in the social media and also during the campaign activities.
(e) Government partners with State Governments for all vaccinations under Universal Immunization Programme. Further, both the Union and State Governments are partnering with NGOs such as Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP), Indian Medical Association (IMA) and Lions Clubs to help eradicate Measles and Rubella from the country.