The Ministry of Health reported today, Thursday, the deaths and infections from measles in Iraq, confirming that 96 percent of recorded cases are of unvaccinated individuals. The Director General of Public Health at the ministry, Riyad Abdul Amir Al-Halfi, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that "the ministry has recorded more than 27,000 cases of measles, 96 percent of which are unvaccinated, and 4 percent are vaccinated individuals who did not complete both doses." He noted that "the number of deaths reached 43, with 42 being unvaccinated and only one case being a vaccinated woman with chronic diseases."
He pointed out that "the percentage of parents agreeing to administer the measles vaccine to their children varies, ranging from 60 to 70 to 90 percent, so we desire to have schools record high approval rates during the ten days of the vaccination campaign," urging parents to "agree to vaccinate their children in schools to protect their health and lives from the dangers of measles."
Al-Halfi confirmed that "the sources of the measles vaccine are from global companies, and it is included in the child vaccination schedule at health centers," indicating that "the Ministry of Health has decided to administer vaccines in schools as part of its health campaigns due to the large proportion of unvaccinated individuals and the rapid spread of the disease among school students."
Health Minister Saleh Hassanawi announced last Sunday the launch of a comprehensive measles vaccination campaign in kindergartens and primary schools, while Education Minister Ibrahim Namas Al-Jubouri confirmed that the campaign targets approximately 7 million students.
