KATHMANDU, Feb 5: The government has recently brought 650,000 doses of vaccines against measles and rubella. 

Dr Abhiyan Gautam, the chief of Child Health and Vaccination Section under the Department of Health Services, confirmed the arrivals of the vaccines in the country under the Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunizations (GAVI) grant assistance. 

The vaccines are manufactured by the Serum Institute of India. According to Dr Gautam, 280,000 doses of vaccines are still awaited. 

The government plans to administer the newly-arrived vaccines to around 5.7 million children under 15 by launching a nationwide vaccination campaign from February 25 to March 20.

The vaccination campaign will cover children aged nine months to below 15 years in 21 districts including those districts sharing border with India and assessed as highly vulnerable to the infection as well. The government also plans to administer the vaccines to children in three districts in the Kathmandu Valley, according to Dr Gautam. 

In remaining districts, the vaccines will be given to children aged nine months to five years. 

Earlier, the government launched a vaccination campaign in Jajarkot and West Rukum in the aftermath of the November 3 earthquake.  The government aims to eliminate the measles and rubella infections by 2026 AD. 

Chief of Vaccine Supplies Management Section Dr Surendra Chaurasiya said the vaccines have been stored at the Teku-based Central Vaccine Store and they will be dispatched to districts soon. 

Last year, the rubella and measles infections took an epidemic turn in 19 districts. 

 
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