MR vaccination: DMO has schools fall in line

Thiruvananthapuram: Following complaints raised by health officials, most private schools have budged from their earlier decision to disallow Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccination to all students in their campus. Earlier, several schools, including major CBSE ones had informed officials that vaccination would be allowed to students only if their parents gave consent in writing. However, with the District Medical Officer approaching the District Child Protection Officer with a complaint, many have fallen in line. Some schools have called for an urgent PTA meeting while others have asked parents to be present with their children at schools for the vaccination.

“My daughter’s school took back the consent form they had asked us to fill. We were asked to take the child for the vaccination on Thursday. Children can return home as there won’t be any class on that day. Also, they will be granted leave if they develop fever due to the vaccination,” said the mother of a child studying at a school in Kuravankonam. District Medical Officer Jose Dcruz also said that the schools that were opposing the move had agreed to cooperate.

“They have given us dates for vaccination after noticing that the drive was progressing without any hurdles at the rest of the schools, especially government ones,” said Mr D'cruz. The children who had already taken vaccination from private hospitals will have their finger inked and will not be re-vaccinated. Several schools had earlier turned their backs on the vaccination drive due to apprehensions among parents. The schools were directed to create awareness among parents to build confidence on the benefits of the vaccination.

Rumour-mongers to face music

The rumours spread on mobile phones and social media against Measles- Rubella (MR) vaccinations were the campaign of perverted minds, said District Medical Office (DMO) Jose Dcruz who warned of legal action against rumour-mongers. A viral message that circulated on WhatsApp claimed that the MR vaccination was a right wing group conspiracy to control minority population by causing impotency in children.

The medical fraternity countered the campaign with a BBC report on a US woman being jailed in Michigan for refusing a judge’s order to vaccinate her child. “The same impotency rumours were used against Polio vaccine in earlier days. Baldness and back pain were the claimed side-effects of vaccines. This is purely baseless,” Mr Druz said.  “Earlier a few naturopaths used to oppose MR vaccine but this time even they have not raised any concerns but only perverts are spreading rumours ,” he added.

Some of the vaccinated children might experience fever from the fifth day of the vaccination. This was a sign of the child developing a resistance as attenuated viruses from the vaccine multiply in the body, doctors said.“A particular WhatsApp message appealing to people not to consume soft drinks as they were laced with the blood of HIV patients did the rounds. The anti-MR vaccination campaign was similar in nature but more evil as it puts the wellbeing of children at risk,” said paediatrician Dr Mohana Chandran.