After Diphtheria Deaths, Kerala Launches Vaccination Drive

Malappuram: Days after the death of an 11-year-old boy of Diphtheria in Kerala's northern town of Malappuram, the state has swung into action.

In Malappuram district, more than 23,000 children have not been immunized, according to government estimates. Ameeruddin, who lived in an orphanage was one of them. He is the second person to have died of Diphtheria this year.

The state is now organising Special vaccination camps. "The large number of children who have not been immunized remains a worry," Social Welfare Minister MK Muneer told NDTV.

But the government says in the 0-2 age group, they have been able to achieve 95 per cent vaccination.

"That is a big improvement. But when we look at children below five years, there are over 23,000 who have not been vaccinated," U Farroq, District Medical Officer for Malappuram, said.

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"The reason was that earlier some religious leaders were against vaccinations but they are not any more. We still have parents hesitating to bring the children. We are running a campaign to target that large group now," he said.

Anti-vaccination propaganda by some orthodox religious groups and also those who oppose Allopathic medicine have been blamed for so many children missing the vaccine.

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A counter campaign by the dominant political party in that region, and a member of the ruling United Democratic Front, Indian Union Muslim League along with well-known religious leaders has begun to convince the parents in favour of vaccinations.

A 10-day special vaccination campaign by the government is now being planned in October to cover all children between 6 and 17 years who were earlier missed out.

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"There has been anti-vaccination propaganda from here and there in Malappuram. We are trying to counter it. As of now no religious organisation has issued an anti-vaccination campaign but there are few individual religious teachers that are still indulging in this," Mr Muneer said.