UP to conduct measles-rubella vaccination from September

BAREILLY: The UP government is likely to conduct a vaccination campaign for rubella as well as measles for children aged nine months to 15 years from September. Though the health department has been conducting vaccination for measles, this is for the first time when it will vaccinate children for rubella as well.


Rubella, also known as German Measles, is spread through rubella virus. Experts say if a pregnant woman is infected with rubella virus, it can lead to miscarriage or severe birth defects.

Dr Deepa Singh, district immunisation officer, said, “Rubella and measles have common characteristics like rashes and fever, but both are different. While measles cases have been declining and only two confirmed cases were reported in 2017 to government hospitals in the district, we have no data available for rubella, as it was not diagnosed. But, possibilities are there, so the vaccination for rubella will be started for the first time vis-à-vis vaccination for measles.”

She added, “We have been conducting campaigns to eradicate measles for the past many years and have been immunising children nine months old. The second round of vaccination for measles takes place when kids are 16 to 18 months old. Now, we will stop giving separate vaccination for measles, as the new vaccine will work for both.”

Dr Vineet Shukla, chief medical officer, said, “Many private hospitals have been conducting vaccination for rubella, but it is for the first time when the government will conduct a mass vaccination campaign for measles as well as rubella. The campaign is expected to start from September with an aim to eliminate measles and rubella by 2020.”