KOZHIKODE: Malappuram, a vaccination-resistant pocket, is leaping ahead in the measles rubella (MR) vaccination drive with 1,02,310 children taking dosage in six days up to October 8. This is the second highest in the state after Thiruvananthapuram (1,3,1683). Considering that the district has the highest targeted children (more than 13 lakh) and a strong anti-propaganda campaign, the show is significant.
As many as 11,28,303 children had been vaccinated in the state as on Sunday. "It has been a smooth sailing," says Dr R. Renuka, Malappuram nodal officer of the vaccination drive. The drive was a success where schools welcomed it. There was not a single serious untoward incident since the vaccination began on October 3. Top officials were of the opinion that the media played a vital role in spreading the campaign.
'Infoclinic,' a collective of doctors on Facebook, exposed the anti-vaccination lobby. Besides, several doctors posted videos of their wards being vaccinated. "Despite the false propaganda and distortion of even court verdict, it is heartening to see the rising vaccination numbers," says Dr Shimna Azeez, administrator of Infoclinic. Her chat box and that of others are flooded with slanders and abuses for their expose of the lobby.
Director of health services, Dr R.L. Saritha said that they had got only four days in schools as Saturday and Sunday were holidays. "It is not the number alone that counts. The target varies in each district," she said. The state's target is 76.55 lakh children between nine months and 15 years in the month-long campaign.
