Mozambique to vaccinate 6 mln against measles, rubella

MPAUTO, May 21 (Xinhua) -- The Mozambican Ministry of Health announced on Monday in Maputo that it expects to vaccinate six million children against measles and rubella in the coming seven days as the second phase of a vaccination campaign.

The vaccination drive, including de-worming and prescription of vitamin A, will cover children aged between six months and 14 years, according to the ministry's spokesperson, Lidia Chongo.

"The vaccination against the two viral and contagious diseases will be administered in health units, schools, children's centers and in the neighborhoods through mobile brigades," said the spokesperson.

The first phase of the campaign, which took place last month, also covered six million children. The goal is to reach 12 million children in total, Chongo said.

Measles is one of the leading causes of infant mortality in Mozambique.

"Over the past seven years, 90,000 cases of measles have been diagnosed in Mozambique, with half of them among children over two years old," the spokesperson said. Enditem