HPA decides to launch measles vaccination campaign
Following the detection of several measles cases in the Maldives, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) is preparing to launch a targeted vaccination campaign for individuals who have not completed their two-dose regimen to curb the spread of the disease. While vaccinations are already being administered to direct contacts of those infected, nine positive cases have been confirmed in the Greater Male' area so far. Consequently, the agency urges the public to get vaccinated as soon as possible, particularly those who lack documentation confirming their vaccination status.
Health authorities are administering measles vaccinations to unprotected individuals following the emergence of new cases in the Maldives, aiming to ensure community safety for those who have not completed their immunization doses. | RaajjeMV
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has announced a vaccination campaign targeting individuals who have not completed the two-dose measles series, following the re-emergence of the disease in the Maldives. This comes after the World Health Organization (WHO) had officially declared measles eradicated from the country in 2017.
Speaking to state media, an official from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) stated that efforts are underway to implement additional measures to mitigate the risk of a measles outbreak. The official emphasized that as measles has been eradicated in the Maldives, these steps are crucial to maintaining that status and reducing the number of individuals vulnerable to the disease.
An official from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) stated that vaccinations have already commenced for direct contacts and individuals residing in the same household as those who have tested positive for the disease. The official further noted that efforts are underway to provide vaccinations to members of the general public who have not yet completed their two-dose vaccine regimen in the coming days.
In this regard, the official stated that efforts are currently underway to procure the vaccines from abroad.
Measles immunization currently involves the administration of two doses of either the MR or MMR vaccine. However, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) advises that in the absence of documentation verifying prior vaccination, the safest course of action is to complete the full two-dose measles vaccine series.
While measles is a vaccine-preventable disease, individuals who lack immunity or have not completed the two-dose vaccination series remain at a high risk of infection.
The Maldives first introduced the MR vaccine into its national immunization program in 1983. Notably, the World Health Organization (WHO) certified the Maldives as having successfully eliminated measles in 2017. However, despite this milestone, several cases of the disease have recently been detected within the country.
Following the detection of several measles cases in the Greater Male' Area this May, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) is currently conducting contact tracing, testing, and vaccination efforts for those exposed. To date, nine individuals in the Male' region have tested positive for the disease.
As measles is a highly contagious disease, health authorities are urging those who have not completed their vaccinations to do so as soon as possible.
