Measles Vaccine
Written by: Wahida Sabir
Measles is one of the most dangerous diseases and human encountering during his lifetime, but as the resistance of the kids’ body is lower, they are more likely to be infected with this disease. In recent times, measles is spread among the children in ten different regions of Afghanistan and about 10 children infected with measles virus are taken to the Indira Gandhi Child Health Care Hospital daily for treatment.
AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some patients’ parents and physicians about measles.
A mother from Farza district, Kabul province says: “my brother-in-law’s child was infected with measles virus. My family did not allow me to take my child to the clinic for applying vaccine and they said that I am a young woman, and the virus transferred to my child too and now he suffers from pneumonia as well.”
Abdul Rahman, a resident of Laghman province says: “I did not apply measles vaccine to my child and now he is infected with measles virus and also, he is suffering from pneumonia too.”
Dr. Mir Mohammad Jalali, an internist at Indira Gandhi Child Health Care Hospital says about the symptoms of measles: “The measles is a contagious disease and its virus effects a child who has not been vaccinated. The children whose ages are between 9 months to 10 years, must be vaccinated against measles' virus. Flowing liquids from the mouth and nose, red eyes, body pain, severe fever, the formation of rash behind the ear, and appearing white spots on the child’s abdomen are the main symptoms of the measles in the children and if other viruses interfere during this disease, as the resistance of the child’s body is low and if not treated on time, she/he might lose her/his life.”
What would be the result if the measles virus vaccine is not applied to the child?
A mother from Shakardara district, Kabul province says that she had not applied measles vaccine to her child and when measles virus attacked on him, he faced many health problems.
Muhammad Daud Naseeri, a resident of Kabul city says that as the resistance of child’s body in low, the measles virus could easily attack her/him.
Doctor Hamidullah Angar, an in charge of the contagious diseases section at the mentioned hospital says: “infants up to 9 months are exempted from measles but, if they are not vaccinated, as their bodies resistance decrease, a very weak measles virus could be easily transferred to them and they might suffer the most severe illness.”
How does the measles vaccine could be applied to the children?
Lema, a vaccinator at Indira Gandhi Child Care Hospital says: “measles vaccines are injected into the shoulder of the child two times, once at the age of nine months and the second time is at the age of 18 months. After a week, some small rashes might appear on the place of vaccination and the child might have a slight fever which is not disturbing and if the epidemic of measles spread in some regions of the country, the campaign of measles vaccination would be started and children up to ten years must be vaccinated against measles virus.”