The Gwalior District Administration has urged people to ignore the baseless fears over MR vaccination and come forward to ensure that no child contacts measles or rubella, two potentially fatal and incurable diseases.

In this connection the administration has roped in the services of the leading medical practitioners, especially the pediatricians of the city.

During a press conference in the presence of the District Administration officials, the pediatric experts said that the MR vaccines are totally safe and are certified as safety vaccines by World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. They added that the MR vaccination has been administrated to children in 192 countries and that there have been no adverse reports about the vaccination from any of these countries. They further said that 41 crore children will be vaccinated in India this year.

 According to the medical experts there is absolutely no chance of the MR vaccine causing any serious damage or reactions. They added that like any medication, the MR vaccine too can cause side effects in very rare cases. Whatever reaction there is would be minor ones and will go away within a few days.

However, a decision not to immunize a child involves great risk and could put the child at risk of contacting these potentially deadly diseases. The doctors also said that there is no medicine for measles and rubella, and that prevention is the only way.

Dr CP Bansal, the Senior Pediatric Specialist said that every child must be protected with this vaccination. He added that even if the child was vaccinated earlier it is important to get the booster dose.

Dr Suhash Ghonde, President, Gwalior Pediatric Association said that pediatricians will be present at schools while administrating the vaccines and said that the qualms and fears about the vaccination are baseless.

Dr Ajay Goud, HOD, Department of Pediatrics, JAH said that 57,000 children have been administrated the vaccination in the district till date, out of which only 12 developed minor reactions.