Mangaluru (TOI): Due to strong refusal from parents, Dakshina Kannada district is yet to vaccinate 982 children against measles and rubella as part of the joint mass vaccination drive of the state and central governments.

The district health and family welfare department based on the state government's statistics had fixed a target of vaccinating 4,83,929 children of the age group of 9 months - 15 years from February 7 to 28. Though the vaccination drive date has been extended to March 19, the district is yet to complete the target. The department could achieve 93.38 % of the target as vaccination could not be administered to 982 children due to opposition and other reasons.

District coordinator for mass vaccination for measles and rubella, Dr Ashok said that the department suffered setback in carrying out vaccination drives in schools at Ullal, Bunder, Kasaba Bengre, Boliyar, Amblamogaru, Kotekar, Natekal, Pudu and Ishwaramangala. He said that parents in many of these regions have opposed to the move the department to administer vaccination against measles and rubella. However, he said that the department will convince the parents and vaccinate children to protect them against measles and rubella. He added that as on Friday, vaccine has been administered to 4,51,877 children in the district.

DHO Dr Ramakrishna Rao said that negative campaign through social media has created panic among parents with regard to the vaccine. He urged parents not to pay heed to rumours.