JEDDAH, 22 October 2007 — The Ministry of Health yesterday launched the second phase of its anti-measles vaccination campaign, which targets around 500,000 school children of different nationalities between the ages of five and 18.
“The campaign follows a World Health Organization recommendation calling for the eradication of measles in countries on the Mediterranean Sea’s eastern region by the year 2010,” said Dr. Ahmed Khulaidi, director of the Preventive Medicine Affairs of the Primary Health Care in Jeddah.
Dr. Khulaidi, who is supervising the campaign, added, “The Saudi Ministry of Health is planning to eradicate measles by 2008.”
The campaign, which is targeted at both private and public schools, kicked off at 11 a.m. at the Abu Bakr Al-Siddique Elementary School in the Al-Ruwais district and will last until Nov. 21.
Around 1,200 nurses from Primary Health Care centers and government hospitals are participating in the campaign.
The first phase of the campaign, which began on Aug. 25 and ends on Nov. 21, was aimed at children between the ages of nine months and five years.
Measles vaccinations are compulsorily given to newborn babies. “Even those who have already taken the vaccination can take it during the campaign since it strengthens their immunity by up to 95 percent. Because Jeddah, a transit point for millions of pilgrims from around the world annually, is a high risk area and there are many underprivileged people who cannot afford private health centers to take the vaccines, the campaign is targeted at all strata of society,” Dr. Khulaidi added.
The launch of the second stage of the campaign took place in the presence of Dr. Abdul Rahman Khayyat, director of Health Affairs in Jeddah, Dr. Abdullah Al-Thaqafi, general director of education, Dr. Mahmoud Al-Sayyed, director of the School Health Unit in Jeddah, and Dr. Khulaidi.
