Measles vaccine extra dose for infants

An MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) Supplementary Immunization Activity (SIA) commenced at all immunization clinic centers in 9 high-risk health districts.

The vaccination program takes place from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Colombo (including the CMC area), Gampaha, Kalutara, Galle, Matara, Kandy, Jaffna, Kurunegala and Kalmunai health districts.

According to the Epidemiology Unit, children born between April 07, 2023, and July 05, 2023, can receive the additional vaccination dose.

The second phase will be initiated on January 20 and extended to other age groups nationwide.

The health authorities decided to administer an additional vaccination dose against measles to infants aged 6 – 9 months as cases began to surge over the past year.

The Epidemiology Unit explained that the MMR vaccination should be considered an additional vaccination dose, noting that routine MMR vaccination should be given to all children who have received SIA-MMR vaccination on completion of 9 months and 3 years of age.

Concerns were raised after Sri Lanka recorded over 700 cases of measles throughout 2023, despite being declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2019 as the fourth country in the Southeast Asian region to eliminate the acute viral respiratory illness.

Health officials have urged parents to ensure their children receive the necessary immunization.