Why MR vaccine is vital to the future generation

Last month, there was massive vaccination program against measles and Rubella viruses in all schools and community based sites around the country. Measles is highly infectious. It can spread quickly through the air. If a child is not vaccinated and comes in close contact with some one who has measles there is a high chance he will catch the disease.A person who catches measles will first have a runny nose, high fever and tiny white spots inside their mouth. After a few days a rash will develop on the neck and spread to other parts of the body. There is no treatment for measles but most people will recover after two to three weeks. Measles can cause problems including blindness, encephalitis (swelling of the brain), severe diarrhoea, ear infection and pneumonia. In very serious cases, measles kills. Complications are far more likely to happen after a child catches measles than from having the MMR vaccine. It is for this reason therefore, that the government of Rwanda through the ministry of health has a taken step forward to vaccinate children countrywide. The purpose of this vaccine is to safeguard future generation against the highly contagious measles and rubella disease. Measles vaccine is administered to children under age category of 9 months to 14 years, and most of children in primary schools fall between these age limits. However those who study in secondary schools and belong to the mentioned age limits should consult health experts on how to receive the advanced age of MR (Measles and Rubella).The country has been vaccinating children with a single dose of Measles vaccine and this has helped reduce the mortality rates caused by the killer disease.Based on the statistics from the ministry of health Biomedical data, estimated 670 deaths occured due to Measles in 2000 and on introduction of the regular vaccination programs against the disease, only 3 deaths were recorded in 2010.Now the second dose of Rubella has been introduced to minimise the risk of high mortality rate caused by rubella virus. The new vaccine of Rubella protects against rubella infection in children and especially future mothers, because a pregnant woman infected with rubella is at a high risk of delivering babies with malformations and mental problems. For Small children Rubella will cause a rash and fever for a few days. Adults might develop arthritis and joint pain. Rubella (German measles) can have devastating effects on unborn children. This condition is called congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). CRS can seriously damage an unborn child’s sight, hearing, heart and brain. Rubella infection in the first three months of pregnancy causes damage to the unborn baby in nine out of 10 cases. Women are tested for protection against rubella during pregnancy and then offered MMR if they are not immune, after their baby is born to give protection to the mother in the future. Rubella is spread in the same way as measles, through the air. Rubella can only be prevented by immunisation.Now, the ministry of health should focus on offering vaccines in the triad combination of Measles,Mumps and Rubella to form the MMR vaccine.Mumps causes fever, headache, swelling of the cheeks, sides of the jaw and swollen glands. It is spread in the same way as measles - through the air. It is about as infectious as flu. Though most people will recover from mumps in seven to 10 days it can result in permanent deafness, viral meningitis (swelling of the lining of the brain) and encephalitis (swelling of the brain). When an adult catches mumps serious complications are more likely. A good percentage of men affected by mumps manifests with swelling of testicles. It should be noted that mumps can only be prevented by immunisation.Dr Joseph Kamugisha is a resident oncologist in Jerusalem, Israel