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The vaccination campaign will target children aged from nine months to 14 years and will be split into two phases. The first phase runs from March 31 until April 12 and targets children in educational institutions and nurseries. The second phase, from April 29 to May 3, will focus on children missed during the first round. Vaccinations will be carried out by 350 teams in over 3,000 private and public schools, with each team comprising at least one medical doctor or one registered nurse.
The campaign had been recommended by Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health in an effort to curb the recurrence of measles cases occurring annually in most Lebanese areas. Speaking at a press conference held on March 27 for the launch, the Minister of Public Health Dr. Mohammed Jawad Khalifa thanked all of those involved in the campaign, particularly UNICEF, and urged all Lebanese citizens to have their children vaccinated.
The campaign will also involve the Ministry of Education and others, as well as various civil society groups and organizations. Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr. Khalid Qabbani said during the press conference that "Lebanese child is our first concern, without him we cannot build a sound and healthy society".
In the run-up to the campaign, UNICEF undertook a comprehensive media awareness programme among the population highlighting the importance of vaccinations.
Source : UNICEF Media NY
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