Immunization Campaign Launched In Lebanon

Yesterday, the Lebanese Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education, along with the WHO and UNICEF, launched a measles and polio vaccination campaign in downtown Beirut. It began in Sanayeh Park, which is home to some 1000 people who have been displaced by the fighting in southern Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut.


The campaign targets children living in areas such as the park, as well as those living in schools and institutions. More than 150 vaccination teams from local NGOs and the Lebanese Red Cross will canvas the city this week, and in the weeks ahead about 100,000 children across the country should be reached.


"With thousands of children displaced by the fighting and living in cramped and crowded conditions, the risk of an outbreak of a vaccine preventable disease such as measles is greatly increased." says WHO Representative for Lebanon, Dr. Jaouad Mahjour.


Measles vaccine will be given to children from 9 months of age to 15 years. Oral polio vaccine will be given to children aged five months to five years old, and all will receive Vitamin A supplementation.


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