Monday, May 22, 2017
Muscat: Women should avoid getting pregnant for one month after taking the measles vaccination, Oman’s health ministry has said.
The clarification came after rumours circulated on social media platforms that woman should not get pregnant for six months after taking the vaccination. The ministry said the vaccine is safe for woman post-pregnancy as well as for women who are breastfeeding. T
Last week, Oman’s Health Ministry launched a national immunisation campaign against measles, mumps and rubella amid a recent outbreak of measles cases.
Nationals and residents alike, between the ages of 20 and 35, are eligible to receive free vaccinations for the three viruses.
The campaign began on May 14 and will last until May 27. The next phase will be conducted after Ramadan.
The ministry says the spike has been caused by the increasing number of expatriates arriving from other countries.
The Oman outbreak coincides with the global epidemic of measles.
Measles cases has decreased drastically in Oman from 679 cases in 1981 to a mere 15 cases in 2001, which is largely due to sustained and routine immunisation, awareness campaigns and intensive case-based surveillance.
Oman experienced a rubella outbreak in 1987—1988 with 257 reported rubella cases.
This epidemic resulted in 34 infants with congenital rubella syndrome (CRS).
Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads through direct contact and through the air.
It can be prevented with a safe and effective vaccine, but due to immunisation gaps remains one of the biggest killers of children worldwide.
The World Health Organisation says measles killed 134,000 in 2015.
In the 12 months from March 1, 2016, to February 28, 2017, a total of 5,881 cases of measles were reported in Europe.
Romania accounted for 46 per cent of those, while 24 per cent were in Italy and 9 per cent in Britain.
By Habib Toumi Bureau Chief
Gulf News 2017. All rights reserved.
