SHILLONG: East Khasi Hills District could be staring at a serious health hazard as it is yet to achieve cent per cent coverage of measles-rubella vaccination.
According to official sources, 2,25,979 children out of 2,85,418 have so far been immunized.
The unvaccinated children may pose a health threat as the virus transmission can only be stopped if all children between the age group of 9 months and 15 years are vaccinated.
Therefore, it is important to ensure that all these children get the vaccination during the ongoing MR vaccination campaign.
The campaign builds up immunity in the community for both measles and rubella by immunizing the target children with a single dose of vaccine and also provides a second opportunity for children left out in routine immunization at the age of 9 months (1st dose) and 16-24 months (2nd dose).
The Deputy Commissioner-cum-Chairman, District Health Society, NHM, East Khasi Hills, Shillong has appealed to all the parents who have not immunized their children to get their children vaccinated at the nearest health centres and both government and private hospitals free of cost.