Following tension during a vaccination programme last year in Hailakandi district of southern Assam, the district administration on August 16 launched an awareness campaign targeting the religious minority section, which had resisted the vaccination drive. 

In a bid to muster support for the upcoming Measles Rubella (MR) vaccination  campaign, the Hailakandi district administration held a meeting with the religious leaders from the minority community. Chairing a meeting with the religious leaders at his office conference hall, Deputy Commissioner Adil Khan appealed to them to extend support to the MR vaccination campaign launched by the government and supported by WHO to protect the children from Measles and Rubella diseases and work together to build a strong and healthier society. 

Seeking support of the religious leaders in spreading the message that the MR vaccine is highly safe and effective, Khan said, “The mission will be a success in the district if no child is left out of the vaccination drive.” Khan also made a plea to the religious leaders to help in dispelling rumours about the MR vaccine among the people belonging to their community to ensure success of the campaign. 

Joint Director of Health Dr. Avijit Basu, Additional Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Abed Rasul Mazumder, District Immunisation Officer, Dr. K. Thambalsena and others while interacting with the religious leaders, apprised them about the safety and efficacy of the MR vaccine in controlling Measles and Rubella viruses. They made a plea to the religious leaders to spread the message that ‘MR vaccine 
helps to develop immunity against Measles and Rubella diseases and does not contain anything that causes impotency or any similar diseases’. 

Over 2.16 lakh children in the age group of nine months and 15 years will be covered in the month-long vaccination drive across the district. A big rally was brought out in Hailakandi town to create awareness on the upcoming MR vaccination campaign. Leaflets, pamphlets and letters of appeal from the Deputy Commissioner and religious leaders were distributed. Meanwhile, Moulana Tayeebur Rahman Barbhuiya of North East India Emarat-e-Shariah and Nadwatut Tameer and Moulana Sarimul Hoque Laskar of Uttarpurbanchal Ahle Sunnatwal Zamat have appealed to the people belonging to the minority community to participate fully in the MR vaccination campaign and make it a success. People belonging to the minority community had last year resisted the vaccination drive 
following rumours spread by nefarious elements that the vaccines lead to impotency.