The Minister of Health Dr. Hamad Al-Mane called upon all citizens and residents to cooperate with MOH teams working for attaining the aims of the national campaign of vaccination against measles. He said the campaign which is executed by MOH during the period from Aug 25 to Nov 21, 2007 in coordination with Sanovy Pasteur Company targets 6.5 million citizens and residents from 9 months to 18 years of age. It has already started in all cities and villages of the Kingdom.
He said MOH has been keen to concentrate on vaccination during the above period due to the fact that eradication of measles requires more future vaccinations. He stressed that total eradication of measles requires cooperation of all parents in applying the two other basic doses for measles, German measles, and mumps at their assigned times after the current campaign period (at 12 months and (4-6) years of age).
He said MOH is working to prevent recurrence of epidemics which increased the percentages of measles infections in the past.
According to WHO, the first international experience of measles eradication has been in the Americas, where successive vaccination campaigns lead to measles eradication in 2000. Other regions are trying to make use of that experience. For example, the Middle East region, including all Arabic countries, Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, has committed to eradicate measles by the end of 2010, Europe also by the end of 2010, and the Pacific by the end of 2012.
The MOH Official Speaker Dr. Khalid M. Al-Marghalani said the campaign which targets 6.5 million citizens and residents between 9 months and 18 years of age shall be launched in two stages, a first stage from 12/08/1428 to 11/11/1428 for children ranging between 9 months and 6 years of age and a second stage from 10/10/1428 to 11/11/1428 for all pre school, primary, intermediate, and secondary students.
He urged all families to bring their children to their nearest health clinics during the above periods, denoting that about 2000 health clinics shall participate in the campaign.
He said coordination has been made with the Ministry of Education for executing the second stage of the campaign within the kindergartens and schools.
He confirmed MOH has mobilized all its employees, including all physicians, nurses, technicians, and administrative personnel for the campaign. 9 million doses of measles have been secured by a cost of about SR15 million, in addition to supporting technical equipment.
He said MOH shall closely follow the activities of the campaign and vaccination results during both stages in order to reach maximum targets. Weekly reports shall be raised MOH headquarters from the Directorates of Health Affairs in all provinces for attaining set goals.