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Clik here to view.As part of efforts at meeting the Millennium Development Goal 4 (MDG-4) of minimising child mortality by 2015, the Ghana Health Service will, from next week, embark on a mass vaccination of children between the ages nine months and fourteen years against measles and rubella.
The safe and effective measles and rubella vaccinations will take place in all communities, schools, market places, health centers and hospitals in the region, from the 11 to 20 of September.
At a press briefing in Bolgatanga on Wednesday, the Deputy Director of Public Health, Upper East Region, Dr. James Akpablie, said the viruses that caused measles and rubella, which are highly contagious, spread through respiration from an infected person to the other.
Dr. Kpablie said the virus that causes measles has a long incubation period of ten to twelve days, making it difficult for one to know if he or she is infected with the virus.
He disclosed that seven to eight million measles deaths occur each year worldwide, but due to vaccination against its virus, child mortality, due to measles, has reduced drastically.
Dr. Akpablie emphasised the need for individuals to embrace the incoming vaccinations, because the region was one that has periodic outbreaks of measles.
Pregnant women, diabetic patients and HIV/AIDS patients are ineligible in this mass vaccination exercise. Individuals are also advised to report to the nearest health center, in case of any adverse reaction due to the vaccination.