Officials at CHD say that move of the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) is aimed at eliminating the disease by 2015, the government´s target as committed to the United Nation. [break]
Out of the total number of pregnant women, more than 10 percent get infected with rubella virus, the CHD says. Doctors say rubella in pregnant women can cause congenital rubella syndrome, which have potentially devastating consequences in developing babies.
Children who are infected with rubella at birth are at the risk of several deformities and health complications like slow growth, mental retardation, malformations of the heart and eyes, deafness and problems related to liver, spleen, and bone marrow.
Measles virus spreads through body fluids.
"We have bought sufficient amount of MR vaccine for the routine immunization program," Dr Taranath Pokhrel, Director of CHD said. He said that children above nine-month old across the country will be administered MR vaccine instead of Measles vaccine.
Two doses of the vaccine are needed for complete immunization. The CHD says that the cost of per dose of MR vaccine is double the standard measles vaccine.
Dr Pokhrel, however, concedes that the government is yet to decide whether the second dose of vaccine should be given immediately after 18 months or anytime within five years age. "We will decide when to give second dose after studying the prevalence rate of disease among the children who have been given complete dose," said Dr Shyamraj Upreti, an expert with DoHS.
The Ministry of Health and Population conducts nationwide campaign against measles and rubella infection every four years.
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