Kozhikode: Perseverance and pestering of health workers have borne fruit. The shame of nine schools with zero percent in the ongoing measles-rubella (MR) vaccination drive is a thing of past, and all of the reluctant schools had crossed 25 percent achievement. Al-Abir, Omassery, was the lone school where not a single child was vaccinated till two days back and as on Monday, 11 of the 24 children in the school had taken the dosage. Talent Kindergarten Velam, MLPS Perumundasserry Kuttiadi, Vadi Badar Kids Garden, Mukkam, Al Zain English Medium School Polur, CM Vadi Rahma, Paimbra, and IBC EM Preschool, Narikkuni, were the others which registered nil a week ago.
“School authorities and parents were by and large convinced after conducting various levels of awareness classes and interaction. This was reflected in the turnout,” said Narikkuni block medical officer Dr Sureshan. As many as 77 schools in the district had achieved cent per cent in the campaign, though it is yet to reach 80 percent even after extending the date twice. Authorities have now shifted focus on communities from schools to achieve the target of 95 percent vaccination.
“Medical students and designated squad people will call each parent and ask problems preventing their wards from administering the vaccine. Their doubts should be clarified and convince them that lakhs of children had taken the vaccine across the state without any issues,” said district nodal officer of MR campaign, Dr Sarala Nair. The student union of Calicut Medical College and other student organisations are being roped in for the purpose.
