EradicatIng Measles and Rubella

In News

• India had set a target to eliminate measles and rubella (MR) by 2023.

Background

• India had missed the earlier deadline of 2015 and 2020.
• In 2019, India adopted the goal of measles and rubella elimination by 2023.

Measles and Rubella

• About:
  • Measles virus is one of the world’s most contagious human viruses. 
  • It kills more than 1,00,000 children every year globally.
  • Measles has a high fatality rate. 
  • According to the World Health Organization (WHO), rubella is a leading vaccine-preventable cause of birth defects.
  • Rubella infection in a pregnant woman has an impact on the foetus, resulting in birth defects.
• Symptoms:
  • In both diseases, the symptoms are a rash and fever. 
• Prevention:
  • Both measles and rubella can be prevented by just two doses of a safe and effective vaccine. 

India’s Efforts to Achieve Target

• During 2010–2013, India conducted a phased measles catch-up immunisation for children aged 9 months–10 years in 14 States, vaccinating approximately 119 million children.
• Mission Indradhanush was launched in 2014 to ramp up vaccinating the unvaccinated population. 
• During 2017–2021, India adopted a national strategic plan for measles and rubella elimination, and introduced rubella-containing vaccine (RCV) into the routine immunisation programme.
• India launched a nationwide measles-rubella supplementary immunisation activity (SIA) catch-up campaign. 

Source: TH