NEW DELHI: After the Delhi High Court put a stay on the state government’s ambitious measles-rubella (MR) vaccination campaign, the parterning Department of Health and education will now challenge the court’s latest decision.
“As it is a national policy, we must follow what is being done in other states. Delhi cannot have two separate policies for private and government schools. We will challenge the court’s decision,” Dr Nutan Mundeja, Director General of Health Services (DGHS), Delhi Government, told The Indian Express.
With the experts of the Health Department, orientation programmes were organise for the officers, principals, teachers and students to encourage the participation.
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday, January 22 deferred implementation of the “Measles and Rubella (MR) Vaccine Immunisation Campaign”, saying that vaccination cannot be administered “forcibly” and without the consent of parents.
The court’s order came while hearing pleas by parents of some minor students at city’s schools alleging that the MR campaign is a “violation of the fundamental rights” of the students as their consent had not been taken.
The measles and rubella vaccination campaign was scheduled to begin in the national capital from January 15, aiming at immunising nearly 55 lakh children in the age group of 9 months up to 15 years across 11 districts of Delhi.
The prime target, according to the Ministry, is immunising children in the pre-schools, school children from both government and private institutions and those out of school.
With agency inputs