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SC October 2012
Measles Gujarat A065 H99A8485.CR2.jpg
Pupils look on as a vaccinator prepares the measles vaccine at the Deewan Ballubhai private school...A total of 891 children aged between 5 and 10 years were immunised at Deewan Ballubhai private school in Paldi neighbourhood, Ahmedabad. The vaccination of children in small groups together with the presence of a reassuring staff ensured that there were few tears among those children vaccinated. Parental consent was obtained for all those vaccinated. Consent was not obtained from the parents of 400 children. Government health workers will attend the next parent teachers meeting at the school in order to encourage as many of these parents as possible to consent to having their children vaccinated. A total of six teams of vaccinators from the Paldi Urban Health Centre (UHC) were assigned to the task of vaccinating children at Deewan Ballubhai school. Each of these teams consisted of four members: the vaccinator, a CLV (Community Link Volunteer), an Anganwadi worker and a school teacher or community worker. ..It is estimated that 90,000 Indian children die from measles every year in India which accounts for 67% of all measles deaths worldwide. 1.63% of measles infections in India results in the death of a child. Death results from one of a number of complications including diarrhoea, respiratory infection and encephalitis. Deaths are more likely to occur in malnourished children living in unsanitary conditions. The measles vaccine is included as part of the Routine Immunisation (RI) offered by the Indian Government to all Indian children in their first year. But RI fails to capture all children. In 14 of India's states, including Gujarat and Bihar, more than 20% of infants are not vaccinated against measles...In response, the Indian Government, with cooperation from several outside agencies including UNICEF and the WHO, has embarked on a program of Supplementary Immunisation Activity (SIA) in these fourteen states. Surveys record all children aged 9 months to 10 years.