Kalani Kumarasinghe: A special measles vaccination program targeting individuals aged 20 to 30 began on Saturday in 12 districts, aiming to enhance immunity against the highly contagious disease.
The program, set to run for four weeks, focuses on individuals who received only one dose of the measles vaccine during childhood.
The inaugural session was held at the Thalangama Divisional Hospital with the participation of Health Ministry Secretary D. Palitha Mahipala and UNICEF Sri Lanka Country Representative Christian Skoog.
The vaccination drive covers Jaffna, Puttalam, Gampaha, Colombo, Kalutara, Galle, Matara, Ampara, Kalmunai, Batticaloa, Kandy, and Colombo City.
Those eligible are urged to contact their nearest Medical Officer of Health (MoH) office, Public Health Inspector (PHI), or public health midwife for more information and vaccination access.
Sri Lanka introduced the measles vaccine into its immunization program in 1984, adding a second dose in 2001 to improve immunity.
The World Health Organization declared Sri Lanka measles-free in 2019. However, a global decline in immunization coverage between 2020 and 2022 has led to a resurgence of measles cases, prompting the need for additional interventions.
The Ministry of Health, supported by UNICEF and the WHO, is spearheading the initiative to prevent further outbreaks.
Measles is known to be highly contagious, with one infected individual capable of transmitting the virus to up to 18 others. (Islandnews)
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