Measles-Rubella Campaign- UNICEF and India Determined to Make it Possible

Universal Immunization Programme (Scope and Scale) • Rapidly changing landscape of Universal Immunization Programme • Two milestones achieved • Vaccine Logistics & Cold Chain Management • National Cold Chain Resource Centre (NCCRC), Pune and National Cold Chain & Vaccine Management Resource Centre (NCCVMRC), NIHFW, New Delhi established to provide technical training to cold chain technicians in repair & maintenance of cold chain equipment. • National Cold Chain Management Information System (NCCMIS) to track cold chain equipment inventory, availability and functionality. • Rotavirus vaccine (RVV) • Japanese Encephalitis(JE) • JE vaccination: One time campaign strategy  single dose JE vaccine targeting all children from 1 to <15 years of age JE vaccination is included into RI in endemic districts. • 268 JE endemic districts (including 37 identified in April’18) identified across 21 states – campaigns completed in 230 districts  JE now part of RI. • Around 15.5 crore children immunized during the campaign • 35 high burden districts (including 4 identified in April’18) identified in 3 states for Adult JE vaccination in endemic blocks (Assam, UP, West Bengal). • Adult JE vaccination campaign completed in 31 districts; more than 3.3 crore beneficiaries aged 15-65 years were vaccinated. • Tetanus & adult Diphtheria (Td) vaccine • Diphtheria cases reported among school going children and adults. • Tetanus with adult Diphtheria (Td) vaccine recommended by National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI). • Td vaccine will provide protection against both Tetanus and Diphtheria in population above 10 years. • Td vaccine will replace 2 doses of TT or single booster dose of TT given to pregnant woman and booster doses to children given at 10 and 16 years of age. • Td vaccine will be introduced in early 2019. • Mission Indradhanush (MI) • Strategy: Mission Indradhanush (MI) • Performance: Mission Indradhanush • Impact of IMI in identified districts • Measles- Rubella Campaign • Uniqueness of Measles- Rubella Campaign • Measles-Rubella campaign launched on 5th February, 2017 at Bangalore, Karnataka • Highest level political involvement • Measles elimination one of highlights of Budget speech 2017-18 • MR campaign: Key points • MR Vaccine Campaign: Implementation Strategy • Inter-sectoral coordination • MR Campaign Experience • Campaign Challenges • Optimize National, State and District task forces for convergence – Strengthening inter-departmental coordination • Sufficient preparatory time for SIA • Preparedness assessment (Go/Delayed Go) activity is critical • Special attention on School strategy and Urban area planning • Strengthening Communication and Media strategy, including social media management • Engagement of pediatricians & private practitioners • Strengthening supportive supervision • Pre, intra and post-campaign monitoring • Plan post-campaign sweeping based on RCM and administrative coverage data • Measles-Rubella Campaign – following Phase 1 • Improved School Strategy • Amitabh Bachchan, Bollywood actor – Print & electronic medium • Dr Devi Shetty, Famous Cardiologist • Factoid videos on MR Appeals and endorsement for MR campaign from religious leaders • AEFI committee meeting • AEFI trainings for MO & Health worker • Tagging of session sites to identified AEFI centers • AEFI Kits supplied to each ANM, Supervisor and facility • AEFI communication plan • AEFIs are promptly being managed at session sites • Measles Rubella campaign – Media coverage Eliminating measles, controlling rubella- Deccan Herald Mission to bust rumours about MR vaccination- Mirror Rubella vaccine of high quality: WHO India head- TOI Enlightenment on Hindu India accelerating efforts to eliminate measles and control rubella by 2020 - Business Standard Vaccine safe: paediatricians- Hindu MR vaccine is safe, says Collector, urges parents not to hesitate - Hindu Puducherry health officials allay fears after 16 students administered with MR vaccine complain of giddiness- TOI Childhood immunisation is the game changer- Hindustan Times Vaccine safe: paediatricians- DNA MMR vaccine at mass prayers- • Overall Social Media Discourse False messages on: • Vaccine causes infertility • Imported Vaccine • Campaign targeting particular section • Vaccine causing autism • New diseases • Private practitioners in India giving measles-rubella (MR) or measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine since many years • Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) endorses the strategy of MR vaccination • MR vaccine is manufactured in India, is duly licensed by regulatory authority DCGI Vaccine is WHO pre-qualified • Country is a major supplier of MR vaccine to the world (Ratnesh Dwivedi is a seasoned academician,NASA Certified Educator and Interdisciplinary Scientist who is serving as Full Time Associate Professor with School of Journalism & Mass Communication at IMS,Noida in India and Honorary Dean Faculty of Social Sciences ,British American University,Sri Lanka Campus. He attended this awareness conference organized jointly by UNICEF India and Gov of India at Foreign Correspondent Club,New Delhi)