The Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry will introduce the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine into the National Immunisation Programme for the first time from October 1. “The mumps vaccine has been introduced as a combined vaccine for the first time into the immunisation programme. There will also be important changes in the immunisation schedule,” health officials told the media at a briefing at the Health Education Bureau.
“Although mumps is generally a self limiting disease rarely leading to death, there are certain exceptions resulting in deafness, or lowering of fertility. In pregnant women who develop mumps in their 12th week of pregnancy, it could lead to spontaneous abortions. Around 50% of serious cases resulting in hospitalisation are below 15 years of age. This underscores the benefits of the vaccine in early childhood,” Dr Sugath Peiris, Senior Epidemiologist noted.
Under the changed schedule commencing next month, the BCG vaccine will be given within 24 hours of birth before the mother is discharged from the hospital. If a scar is not present, the 2nd dose could be given after six months upto five years. The first dose of measles vaccine, previously given at 9 months of age will now be given later, at one year of age. The Japanese Encephalitis vaccine (JEV) earlier given at 1 year will be advanced to 9 months. The 1st dose of MMR will be given to a child on completion of 1 year, the 2nd dose at 3 years. “The dose will be very low – 0.5 ml of reconstituted vaccine. We don’t foresee any complications,” Dr Peiris said. Children will also receive the aTd ( adult Tetanus diphtheria) vaccine on completion of 12 years of age. One dose of MMR vaccine will also be given to all females in child bearing age (between 15-44 years) who have not been immunised with rubella containing vaccines earlier. Pregnant women will also be administered the Tetanus Toxoid to prevent tetanus.
Fielding questions on how safe the new immunisation schedule was, Dr Maheepala, Additional Secretary of Health, supported by Dr Paba Palihawadana, Epidemiology Chief, said several trials of the new schedule had been conducted since 2008. All these had strictly followed the WHO position. According to WHO, by December 2010, 2-dose MMR schedules had been implemented in 132 countries out of 193 member states in their national immunisation programme. The health benefits of immunisation against life threatening diseases far outweighed any minor adverse reactions, they said. “We have been able to eliminate many life threatening diseases from this country such as polio, diphtheria, tetanus and measles because of our national immunisation programme. Our aim is to achieve at least 90-100 percent coverage. With more awareness raising by the media and community participation, we can achieve this goal,” they reiterated.
http://www.nation.lk/2011/09/18/news23.htm
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