More than 61,400 children vaccinated so far against MR

: The massive vaccination drive launched against Measles and Rubella has evoked good response in Puducherry, with more than 61,400 children in government and private being given the shots so far, a top official of Health and Family Welfare Services

Director of health and family services DrK V Raman told reporters here today that the drivewould go on till the end of this month and was aimed at covering in all 3.1 lakh children aged between nine months and fifteen years.

He said all 16 children of a private school in a rural area here who developed restlessness after vaccination yesterday had been discharged after treatment
 

Four children in a government school in Karaikal who also became restless today because of pain due to injection jab were under observation in the government hospital there.

Dr Raman asked parents and children not to panic about the vaccination as it would be of help protect the children from attack of diseases.

The medicine was procured from Serum Institute, Pune and there was no need to have any fear or apprehension of the vaccine, he said.

He said school authorities should properly sensitise children on the need to undergo the vaccination.

Dr Kalimuthu, the Mission Director, said the object of the drive was to ensure that Puducherry emerged 'measles and rubella free Union Territory' on the same line of success recorded in eradicating pulse polio.

Deputy Director of Public Health Dr G Ragunath, who was also present, said so far 40 persons had been diagnosed to be suffering from the swine flu in Puducherry.

Five of them died of the ailment in the government hospital,while the others were treated and discharged,he said.

All primary health centres had been stocked with necessary medicines and manpower, he said, adding necessary steps were taken to prevent the spread of the disease in the Union Territory.