GUWAHATI, Oct 23 - Assam has achieved more than 76 per cent coverage in the Measles Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign which was launched in February 2017 in a phased manner across the country.
While Tinsukia and Dhemaji districts have achieved 100 per cent coverage in the vaccination drive, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Sivasagar, Lakhimpur, Jorhat, Nalbari and Sonitpur districts have achieved more than 90 per cent coverage.
On the other hand, focus has to be given to districts like Chirang, Hailakandi, Dhubri, Dima Hasao, Cachar and Karimganj where the coverage rate is less than 60 per cent, according to data released by Dr Ilias Ali, senior physician at the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) and Dr K Pathak, District Immunisation Officer of Kamrup (Metro) here.
The two doctors also said rumours that the vaccine causes infertility, the campaign for vaccination targets a particular section, the vaccine causes autism and new diseases, are some challenges faced during the campaign which need to be overcome for eliminating the disease from the State.
