‘Immunisation Week’ targets measles eradication

A PHCC physician addresses parents during a lecture.

The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) has concluded the ‘Immunisation Week’ campaign with many activities held across primary healthcare centres.

In accordance with the slogan of Supreme Council of Health’s campaign ‘Stop the Measles now’, PHCC organised different lectures with parents, kids and medical staff to advice on the importance of being vaccinated.

Mesaimeer Health Centre organised different lectures attended by parents and led by PHCC staff nurse Heba Redha.

During the lecture, she highlighted the importance of being vaccinated against measles saying: “Measles causes ear infections, pneumonia, encephalitis that can lead to brain damage and some children may die from the infection.”

While explaining that vaccines save lives and can help to prevent certain diseases, Redha said: “Having your child vaccinated not only protects them from chronic illness, but also helps to protect the rest of the community.”

She said that though vaccines may involve some discomfort and could cause pain, redness or tenderness at the site of injection, she said it is minimal compared to the pain, discomfort, and trauma of the diseases the vaccines prevent.

“The disease-prevention benefits of getting vaccines are much greater than the possible side effects for almost all children,” she maintained.

Other PHCC centres such as Abu Nakla, Umm Ghuwalina, Al Shamal, Airport and Madinat Khalifa also participated in the campaign with the common aim of eradicating measles in Qatar by 2015.