|
Measles is a very infectious disease presenting with fever
with rashes. Myanmar
has started measles immunization since 1987. At first one dose was given to
the children at the age of nine months. In 1995, 87 urban townships were
covered by mass measles immunization campaign targeting children under the
age of three years. The whole of Yangon and
Mandalay Divisions were covered in 1997, targeting children under the age of
five year. Then the whole country was covered with the same type of campaign,
in three phases, implemented from 2002 to 2004. Again in 2007, the mass
measles campaign covered the whole country for all children aged between 9
months to five years. Under this campaign altogether some six million
children were immunized.
Second opportunity was given to cover the missed children
and also to boost the immunity for those who have already received the first
dose. Despite all those immunization efforts, those who are missed are missed
again. Hence, new cohorts need to be continually reached. In fact, we should
never miss the opportunity to immunize a child. Minor illnesses should not the reasons for
not vaccinating a child.
There were more cases of measles during the year 2011 and
more outbreaks were observed since the number of children who missed the
immunization during previous years has accumulated, remaining them
unprotected against the disease.
However, some positive developments in this context are
coming up:
 Myanmar
will start measles second dose in routine immunization in 2012
Global
Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) supports
additional vaccines to Myanmar
to immunize second dose of measles vaccine
Pentavalent vaccine proposal has been prepared and
submitted to GAVI
Costed Multi-year plan for the period 2012-2016 has also
been formulated
|
