Taplejung, Feb. 28: The National Vaccination Campaign for Measles-Rubella began nationwide from Sunday, but the campaign will start in Taplejung only on coming Friday. According to the Health Office Taplejung, the Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign is going to be conducted in two phases in the district from coming Friday.

The Health Office organised an orientation on the preparation of the district-level Measles-Rubella vaccination campaign and strengthening of regular vaccination at Phungling, the district headquarters, on Sunday. 

Yugraj Ghimire, Chief of the Health Office, said that preparations have been made to conduct the vaccination drive at nine local levels in two phases. 

“The vaccination campaign will be conducted in Phungling Municipality, Sidingwa Rural Municipality, Sirisingha Rural Municipality and Pathibhara Yangwarak Rural Municipality from March 1 to 5 in the first phase.  

Similarly, in the second phase, the campaign will be conducted in Atharai Tribeni Rural Municipality, Maiwakhola Rural Municipality, Meringden Rural Municipality, Mikwakhola Rural Municipality and Maktanglung Rural Municipality from March 7 to 11. 

Ghimire said that five vaccination centres would be set up in each ward to vaccinate children against Measles and Rubella.  The Measles-Rubella vaccine will be given to children from nine months to five years, he added. 

Ghimire said that although the target was to vaccinate 10,000 children across the district, according to the data collected by the Health Office, the number of children to be vaccinated is 8,187.

Along with the Measles-Rubella vaccine, children who have missed out earlier will also be given DPT-Hep, B-Hiv, PCV, and IPV vaccines under regular vaccination. 

Amir Madel, Mayor of Phungling Municipality, who participated in the orientation, advised the Health Office not to miss out on vaccinating any children and to make the campaign effective.