Sunderbani: Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccination in Rajouri (J&K)

Vaccine hesitancy

Parents are responsible for their child’s health and well-being, including protecting them by providing active acquired immunity to a particular disease through vaccines.

Department of Paediatrics, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC), Aligarh Muslim University ( AMU) certify MR vaccine.

While most parents of Sunderbani, Kalakote and Taryath ensure that their children are immunized with MR Vaccine on time but some are hesitant about vaccination, delay vaccinations and some are totally refused recommended vaccines. Over the last few weeks, many controversies related to immunization safety have arisen on whatsApp and social media, leading to an increasing number of parents refuse to vaccinate their children. This refusal of MR vaccine has become more popular among parents of Sunderbani and Taryath. The controversies and statements surrounding immunization side effects caused an erosion of public trust in the efficiency and safety of vaccination programs started by government of India. Thus it affecting the vaccination program in district Rajouri.

Students of govt. P.S. Sulla Nalla (Bandrai)

This situation is more frustrating for physicians and Teachers of govt Schools. Govt teachers in our area find it distressing to see parents deliberately withhold a potentially life-saving intervention from their child. The unvaccinated child could put other people in society at risk.

Vaccines play a vital role in preventing diseases in children; the vaccine allows the body to safely learn to make its own antibodies to kill the viruses and bacteria. Vaccine stimulates children immune system so that body can recognize the disease and protect child from future infection. It can act like an agent to protect body from becoming sick.

Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccination

To eliminate measles and control rubella, government of India along with ten Southeast Asian countries and WHO come together and start campaign program that’s aim to cover approximately 41 crore children by 2020.In this direction, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has initiated measles-rubella (MR) vaccination campaign in the age group of 9 months to less than 15 years in a phased manner across the India.

According to WHO: - Measles is an acute childhood infectious disease caused by a virus. The virus is transmitted from person to person through coughing or sneezing. The disease is characterized by: a generalized, reddish (erythematous), blotchy (maculopapular) rash, fever usually above 38˚C (if not measured, then "hot" to touch) and at least one of the following - cough, runny nose (coryza), or red eyes (conjunctivitis).

Rubella is a contagious, generally mild viral infection that occurs most often in children. Rubella virus infection usually causes a mild fever and rash illness in children and adults, infection during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester, can result in miscarriage, fetal death. The rubella virus is transmitted by airborne droplets when infected people sneeze or cough. Humans are the only known host.

MR- Vaccine helps prevent and fight Measles and Rubella. The disease occurs commonly in children, with the development of MR- Vaccine, the disease has been controlled to a great extent. In addition to its intended effect, MR- Vaccine may cause some unwanted effects too Measles and Rubella virus vaccine are a live virus vaccine for immunization

against measles (rubella) and rubella German Measles

Common side effects of MR-vaccine include:

injection site reactions (burning, stinging, swelling, tenderness, and hives)
body jerks
difficulty to walk
sore throat
cough
headache
dizziness
fever
rash
nausea
vomiting
Diarrhea etc

Since the target groups are from the age group of nine months to less than 15 years of age, the teachers are the best persons to motivate children as well as their parents. But due to the fake alerts on social media Most of the government schools in the district Rajouri recorded low attendance on Monday. The attendance of students was 30 to 40 per cent less in schools. Some parents also reached school to ask teachers not to administer vaccine to their children.

Pharmacist Mr. Ajay Kumar Sharma (Sub center Bandrai) addressing the parents,Students and Teachers of govt. PS Sulla Nalla about Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccination.

Dealing with vaccine-hesitant parents requires knowledge and skill. Health department is already covering awareness programs on MR vaccine in every School, Anganwadi centres. Governments also going to including religious places like temples, Gurdwara and Mosque. Teachers involving in this program from every school so that proper awareness could be carried out to provide the education and awareness that patients, families need to make responsible immunization choices. . Education and taking time with patients have been shown to result in high improvement in terms of affecting parents' attitudes about vaccination program.

This is true for parents with the most questions and concerns but teacher play a vital role in imparting knowledge to them. The role of a teacher in measles-rubella (MR) vaccination campaign is both significant and valuable.

10 Tips for Teachers on Dealing with Difficult Parents

1) Educate parents about the dangers of vaccine-preventable diseases and the risks of not vaccinating as they relate to the child, family and community.

2) Take time to listen.

3) Eye‐to‐eye contact – Not just as you speak – But also as you listen.

4) Acknowledge risks and benefits.

5) Listen carefully, paraphrase to the parent what they have told you, and ask them if you have correctly interpreted what they have said.

6) Have both science and stories available

7) OK to note that vaccination is not risky.

8) Explain side effects.

9) Use of local languages in schools (Dogri)

10) Be confident while speaking.