KAMPALA, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Uganda's ministry of health on Thursday said it immunized over 18.7 million children under the age of 15 years against measles, rubella and polio.
Ruth Aceng, minister of health told reporters here that over 18.7 million children were immunized, surpassing the 18.1 million target, representing 105 percent children vaccinated against the deadly diseases.
At least 7.3 million children aged below nine months were vaccinated against polio, out of the targeted 8.2 million children, according to the preliminary results released by the minister.
The initially five-day countrywide vaccination exercise was launched on Wednesday last week but extended to Sunday by one day due to overwhelming demand to interrupt the circulation of measles and rubella that is affecting some parts of the country. Uganda is also at risk of importation of polio, according to the ministry.
"The ministry of health implemented the vaccination exercise in order to interrupt the measles and rubella outbreaks in which over 300,000 cases were reported, 46,000 patients and 587 deaths were recorded," said Aceng.
The vaccination exercise was conducted in schools and communities countrywide, targeting all children under 15 years of age whether previously immunized or not in order to interrupt circulation of the diseases.
The ministry said those who missed the vaccination can always visit the designated health centers.
