The Ministry of Health on Thursday launched a measles vaccination campaign in Panyagor, Twic East County of Jonglei State, to combat the spread of the disease.
The campaign, which will run for seven days, targets all payams in the county.
The launch was attended by county leaders, youth representatives, women’s groups, and officials from both the national and state governments.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Chol Leek Deng, Twic East County Health Department Director, said vaccinators are fully prepared to begin the campaign.
He also confirmed that all payams in the county have started implementing the vaccination program.
‘’Today we have started the vaccination and the first dose was administered in the presence of the county commissioner and the team. We are happy as the county health department. The other payams have started also together with us. The campaign will run for one week and the county health department together with the ministry of health will be supervising the program,’’ he stated.
Meanwhile, the County Commissioner Juach Arok Juach expressed gratitude to the National and State Ministries of health as well as partners such as Tear-Fund, for their support.
He noted that the county had long awaited the arrival of measles vaccines.
‘’It is a great achievement to have the measles vaccine in the county. We are also grateful to the health partners that have supported South Sudan and people of Twic East,’’ he said.
Measles vaccine is typically administered as part of (measles, mumps, and rubella) given in two doses. The first dose is usually given to children between 12 and 15 months of age and the second dose is typically given between 4 and 6 years of age.
Women of childbearing age are also vaccinated before they get pregnant as well as international travelers.
According to World Health Organization, between 2000 and 2023, measles vaccination prevented more than 60 million deaths worldwide.
