KOZHIKODE: Two northern Kozhikode and Malappuram districts are sweating it out to increase the measles, rubella (MR) vaccination rate as they still lag behind others. As on October 23, in Kozhikode, 2,59,474 children are vaccinated (35.1 percent) while in Malappuram, it is close to 26 percent. At the same time, the two have the highest target in the state, 12,60,493 children in Malappuram and 7,38,694 in Kozhikode. According to sources, Valayam, Kuttiadi, Olavanna, Cheruppa, Thiruvallur, Thiruvangoor health blocks had registered the least in Kozhikode district.
The health department has multi-pronged strategies to better the numbers. In Kozhikode, eight private hospitals have joined the campaign. “The vaccination will be available free at Baby Memorial, Fathima, Aster Mims, Rajendra, National, Iqra and Ashoka hospitals till this month. Further, each of them had come forward to adopt schools having the highest number of students,” said Kozhikode district medical officer Dr V. Jayashree. “A private hospital has already agreed to adopt Government Ganapath Model Girls HSS."
Health officers are busy wooing religious leaders to endorse the campaign and clear off doubts among some quarters. Already many scholars and priests had appeared on video calling for vaccination, including Panakkad Shihab Thangal and Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar. “The false propaganda of affecting reproduction has an impact on some. Though the top religious leaders had no issue with vaccination, the grassroots leaders are reluctant. Besides, the anti-vaccination lobby had started their work much before the government,” observed a senior medical officer in Malappuram.
