The Ministry of Health through the Maseru District Health Management Team (DHMT) will launch Measles Vaccination Campaign on April 17, 2023.

This was disclosed by the Maseru District Medical Officer, Dr Moseme Makhele at the press conference held in Maseru on Thursday.

He said this comes after the measles outbreak in Maseru where four children were infected with measles, saying according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) when more than three children are affected in a certain area it is said to be a pandemic.

He noted that after they discovered that some children were infected with measles, the infected children were put into quarantine while 3200 children were vaccinated in the affected area, saying none of them died from the vaccine or have unpleasant after effects.

He, therefore, urged parents of eligible children to allow their children to be vaccinated, saying they are working with sister ministries to ensure that this campaign becomes a success.

He noted that vaccinated children are at a lower risk of being infected by measles hence it is important for every child below five years to vaccinate once a year.

Dr Makhele said the incubation period of measles ranges between 7 and 18 days, adding that patients are infectious from about 4 days before developing the rash.

He said common complications are ear infections and diarrhea, saying serious complications include pneumonia and encephalitis as well as infant mortality.

He said in the upcoming vaccination campaign, they have targeted 114 000 children to be vaccinated.

The 2022 vaccination campaign turnout was 33 percent, but the target was 90 percent.

By Staff Reporter: Maphoka Likotsi