Karwar: Over 400 parents in the highly ghettoized coastal city of Bhatkal stopped the immunization of their children against Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) as they were convinced that the MMR vaccine was not a vaccine but another means to sterilize their children.
The problem began last Sunday at Shams School in Bhatkal where hundreds of parents stormed the school and blocked school authorities from vaccinating the 825 children in the age group of 4-6, who were set to be vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella, aka German Measles.
The misguided parents had been led to believe that the time-tested protection against MMR was actually a means to allegedly "inject" birth control medicines into the children to limit the numbers of the minority community. They were going by a video clipping and a post on the MMR vaccination by a language publication which carried the logo of a national media house that dubbed the vaccination project of the NDA government "anti-minority" as it had birth control medicines!
Of the 825 students, only 300 were immunised last Sunday until protests from parents forced the school to stop the immunization altogether.
On Tuesday, school authorities and officials met the angry parents and guardians of the students and spelt out the perils of missing out on MMR for their wards. The school brought in religious leaders and doctors from the community who explained the need for the vaccine.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, school authorities and officials met angry parents and guardians of students and spelt out the perils of missing out on MMR for their wards. But five per cent remained unconvinced.
“Dr Haneef Shabab gave a detailed description about the problem of Measles Mumps and Rubella and the importance of vaccination. He spoke for one hour on the topic and cleared all the confusions of the parents,” Shams School incharge principal Muhammed Raza Manvi told Deccan Chronicle.
Parents were told that about 16,000 children were already immunized in Bhatkal which included children from all communities. They were also told that no vaccines could have birth control medicines.
"Vaccinations will resume next Sunday in the school,” Principal Manvi added, saying that 5 per cent of parents were still hesitant to vaccinate their children.
Majlis e islah wa Tanzeem general secretary Altaf Kharuri said that the organization, which enjoys respect among the community members in Bhatkal, had already asked all the community members to take the vaccination for their children.
“We have already told all our community members that the vaccination had no side-effect and was good for the children and asked all the parents to take their children for vaccination. As there was confusion we have also circulated our message through social media. We would repeat this and educate our community members,” he said.
Considering the confusion and hesitation of the parents, the taluk administration has decided to create awareness in all schools where students were vaccinated.
“We have decided to hold meetings and talks by the doctors to give a clear picture of the vaccination in all those schools where the number is very less. All the schools have been asked to follow this,” Tahsildar V N Baadkar said.
Similar hesitation existed even in Dakshina Kannada. However the health department held an awareness campaign. With the co-operation of the community leaders, the vaccination is being carried out with good results. The cumulative result of vaccination in DK district is 72 per cent, according to DHO.
