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Home » Metro » Health and Science
First jabs in measles campaign
By Cai Wenjun and Li Wei |
September 12, 2010, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
MORE than 92,000 children in Shanghai received free measles vaccination yesterday on the first day of a 10-day nationwide measles vaccination program for an estimated 100 million children aged between eight months and 14 years.
In Shanghai, up to 2 million children are expected to be vaccinated although vaccination is not compulsory.
Medical data shows that about 5 to 10 percent of children vaccinated against measles will still contract the disease, so a second jab is helpful in the case of those already vaccinated. But if the parents refuse consent, their decision will be respected, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said.
To divert fearful children's attention away from the needles and the injection itself, the Dapuqiao Community Hospital in Shanghai's Luwan District prepared special cloth bags in the shape and color of strawberries for every child yesterday.
All the children who were vaccinated yesterday were those not yet attending kindergartens. Special medical teams are to visit all local primary and middle schools and kindergartens to give injections from tomorrow.
The Shanghai Health Bureau earlier told parents that all the vaccine was produced locally and transported by professional companies.
The bureau yesterday sent officials to visit some vaccination clinics to inspect procedures and give guidance. Among the inspectors were World Health Organization and Ministry of Health officials.
China reported 131,000 measles cases in 2008, accounting for 46 percent of the world's total. The figure dropped by 60.1 percent to 52,000 in 2009 and, in the first six months of this year, it was down 25.1 percent compared with the same period of last year, due to "regular vaccination."
The health ministry has allocated 157 million yuan (US$23 million) for the current vaccination program.
A highly contagious disease, measles affects mostly children. Its symptoms are high fever and rashes.
Most people recover within two to three weeks.
In Shanghai, up to 2 million children are expected to be vaccinated although vaccination is not compulsory.
Medical data shows that about 5 to 10 percent of children vaccinated against measles will still contract the disease, so a second jab is helpful in the case of those already vaccinated. But if the parents refuse consent, their decision will be respected, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said.
To divert fearful children's attention away from the needles and the injection itself, the Dapuqiao Community Hospital in Shanghai's Luwan District prepared special cloth bags in the shape and color of strawberries for every child yesterday.
All the children who were vaccinated yesterday were those not yet attending kindergartens. Special medical teams are to visit all local primary and middle schools and kindergartens to give injections from tomorrow.
The Shanghai Health Bureau earlier told parents that all the vaccine was produced locally and transported by professional companies.
The bureau yesterday sent officials to visit some vaccination clinics to inspect procedures and give guidance. Among the inspectors were World Health Organization and Ministry of Health officials.
China reported 131,000 measles cases in 2008, accounting for 46 percent of the world's total. The figure dropped by 60.1 percent to 52,000 in 2009 and, in the first six months of this year, it was down 25.1 percent compared with the same period of last year, due to "regular vaccination."
The health ministry has allocated 157 million yuan (US$23 million) for the current vaccination program.
A highly contagious disease, measles affects mostly children. Its symptoms are high fever and rashes.
Most people recover within two to three weeks.
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