From the Health Centre

Brighton College Abu Dhabi | PO Box 129444, Abu Dhabi, UAE | Tel: +971 (0)2 815 6500 | Fax: +971 (0)2 815 6520 www.brightoncollege.ae | schoolnurse@brightoncollege.ae

Thursday, 14 January 2016

The National Measles Immunization Campaign

Dear Parents,

The Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD) and Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) have

confirmed that The National Measles Immunization Campaign is being implemented by the Ministry

of Health and Dubai Health Authority (in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO))

to eliminate measles in the UAE.

All public and private school pupils from FS1 to Year 13 (or equivalent) will be vaccinated in their

schools in the school academic year 2015 / 2016.

The campaign is targeting all UAE nationals and residents except for medically appropriate

exclusions.

Please be assured that the College’s Health Centre is fully prepared for providing the vaccine

through the HAAD staff for all pupils after receiving confirmation from their parents.

We will be sending out the consent forms next week.

Kind regards,

Brighton College Health Centre

PO Box 5674 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates أبوظيب، اإلمارات العربية املتحدة : 5674 ص.ب +971 2 4993333 +971 2 4449822 haad.ae

The National Measles Immunization Campaign

The National Measles Immunization Campaign is being implemented by the Ministry of Health,

Health Authority – Abu Dhabi, and Dubai Health Authority (in cooperation with the World Health

Organization (WHO)) to eliminate measles in the UAE. The campaign aims to vaccinate all

people from age 1 year to 34 years (in two phases), with one dose of Measles, Mumps and

Rubella (MMR) vaccine by injection; regardless of prior vaccination status or measles disease

history, to strengthen immunity against measles.

1. Who should receive the vaccine during the campaign? When it will be implemented?

The campaign will be conducted in 2 phases targeting all UAE nationals and residents from

age 1 to 34 years.

Phase 1: from 1st – 26th November, 2015; targeted age group: 1 year – 18 years.

Phase 2: in 2016 (dates to be announced); targeted age group: 19 – 34 years.

One dose of MMR vaccine will be administered free of charge to the targeted groups.

All public and private school students from kindergarten to grade 12 (or equivalent) will be

vaccinated in their schools during the academic year 2015 / 2016.

2. What are the campaign vaccination sites in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi?

The campaign service is provided in all public healthcare facilities and some private

hospitals / clinics. For more information about campaign vaccination sites, visit:

www.haad.ae

All public and private school students from kindergarten to grade 12 (or equivalent) will be

vaccinated in their schools in the school academic year 2015 / 2016. The school

administrators/ nurses will contact parents/ guardians concerning the vaccination schedule

for their children.

3. Why is it important to implement this campaign?

This campaign is designed to strengthen people’s immunity against measles and to

ensure that the targeted groups are more fully protected.

Measles is a highly contagious disease that may lead to severe consequences.

Therefore, it is important to eliminate the disease from the UAE (to have 0 measles

cases). The UAE is committed to implement World Health Organization (WHO)

strategies for the elimination of measles worldwide. Measles eradication will be achieved

PO Box 5674 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates أبوظيب، اإلمارات العربية املتحدة : 5674 ص.ب +971 2 4993333 +971 2 4449822 haad.ae

through adherence to routine vaccination programs and supplementary vaccination

campaigns.

Babies who are still too young to get the vaccine and other people who are ineligible to

receive the vaccine due to medical reasons rely on high vaccination coverage in the

community to ensure they will not be infected with measles virus.

4. What is measles?

Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus that can infect children and adults

who are not protected. Measles is considered as one of the leading causes of disability and

death among young children worldwide.

5. What are the symptoms?

Usually the first symptom is a high fever; which usually begins about 10 to 21 days after

exposure to the virus, and may last 4 to 7 days.

A runny nose, cough, red and watery eyes, and small white spots inside the mouth might

develop in the initial stage.

After several days, a rash starts to erupt on the face and upper neck which then spreads

downward to other parts of the body including arms, legs and feet.

The rash lasts for 5 to 6 days before fading.

6. How does measles be transmitted?

The virus that causes measles spreads through the air when an infected person coughs,

sneezes, or talks. The virus can live for two hours in the atmosphere or on surfaces. Infected

persons are usually contagious from four days before to four days after the rash appears.

7. Is measles a serious disease?

Measles can be very serious, especially among young children, the malnourished or those

with weakened immune systems). Measles can lead to lung infection, brain damage,

deafness, and sometimes death.

8. How is measles prevented?

Vaccination is the best, safest, and most effective tool to prevent measles. The National

Immunization Program provides a combined vaccine that protects against Measles, Mumps

and Rubella (MMR). This vaccine contains weakened strains of viruses that cause measles,

PO Box 5674 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates أبوظيب، اإلمارات العربية املتحدة : 5674 ص.ب +971 2 4993333 +971 2 4449822 haad.ae

mumps and rubella. These prepare the immune system to fight the diseases before being

infected.

9. When should a person receive the MMR vaccine?

According to the national vaccination schedule; 2 doses of MMR vaccine are given to

children at age of 12 months (1 year) and age of 18 months (1.5 years). Children who do not

receive the second dose at 18 months will receive it at grade 1 in school.

An additional dose during the vaccine campaign is necessary to protect the target group and

the community against measles, mumps and rubella regardless of the immunization doses

received earlier.

10. Is MMR vaccine safe?

Yes, the MMR vaccine is very safe and it complies with the highest quality standards set by

the World Health Organization. The benefits of getting the vaccine far outweigh the risks of

vaccine side effects, which are extremely rare. Before licensing any vaccine in the world, it

is tested extremely for many years. Once a vaccine is in use, the national and international

authorities are committed to assuring the safety of vaccines through strict monitoring

systems.

11. What are the side effects of MMR vaccine?

Getting the vaccine far outweighs the risk of vaccine side effects or getting measles, mumps

or rubella diseases. Vaccines, like any other medicines, may cause some side effects

including redness or pain in the injected area. The risk of severe reaction is extremely rare.

It is important to make sure there are no contraindications from getting the vaccine.

12. Who should not receive MMR vaccine?

Who previously developed a severe reaction following MMR vaccine.

Who are allergic to antibiotic called neomycin.

People with health conditions which lowers immunity (e.g. leukaemia, cancer, HIV/AIDS)

or who are undergoing treatment that lowers immunity (e.g. radiotherapy, chemotherapy

and steroids).

Moderately to critically sick people admitted in the hospital

Pregnant women. Women should avoid getting pregnant for 4 weeks after vaccination

with MMR vaccine.

PO Box 5674 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates أبوظيب، اإلمارات العربية املتحدة : 5674 ص.ب +971 2 4993333 +971 2 4449822 haad.ae

13. Is the vaccine safe for sick people?

Generally, MMR vaccine can be given to people if they have minor illness such as cold, but

if they are moderately or critically ill, the vaccination should not be given until they are fully

recovered.

14. Is there a link between MMR vaccine and autism?

Many studies conducted concerning the link between MMR vaccine and autism have proven

that MMR vaccine does not cause autism. Signs of autism typically appear around the age

that children receive MMR vaccination (between 12 – 18 months) but the vaccine has no link

to autism.

This rumour originated when a gastroenterologist announced that he found virus from the

vaccine residing in the intestines of 12 autistic children and, therefore, he hypothesized that

the MMR vaccine caused autism. Many other researchers attempted to verify this finding in

larger studies but none could confirm the result. Subsequent investigations discovered that

the gastroenterologist’s research was highly suspect. Eventually, his study was retracted by

the medical journal that published it and the gastroenterologist lost his license to practice

medicine.

15. If the child receives the vaccine during the campaign, does that mean, they do not

have to be vaccinated again as per the routine vaccination schedule?

The dose the child will get during the campaign is an additional dose. It is important that

children should still receive the complete series of routine vaccination doses.

If the routine vaccination appointment is scheduled in the same period for the campaign, the

dose which has been taken will be recorded twice, on the vaccination card as part of the

campaign and on the child’s vaccination record.

16. If the child has already been fully immunized in the routine vaccination program. Do

they still require the campaign dose?

Yes, the child needs to get the campaign dose regardless of the number of doses taken

during the routine vaccination.

During immunization campaigns, vaccination and disease history are not taken into

consideration to decide whether vaccination is required or not. Receiving an extra dose of

MMR vaccine during the campaign is safe and poses no significant medical harm.

PO Box 5674 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates أبوظيب، اإلمارات العربية املتحدة : 5674 ص.ب +971 2 4993333 +971 2 4449822 haad.ae

If the child is already immune against measles, mumps and rubella and receive the vaccine,

their immune system will clear the body from the vaccine by a process similar to that which

the body uses to clear the disease virus.

17. Should the vaccine be given again to children even if they have received the vaccine

one day or one week before, during routine vaccination?

During immunization campaigns, vaccination and disease history are not taken into

consideration to decide whether vaccination is required or not. Receiving an extra dose of

MMR vaccine during the campaign is safe and causes no significant medical harm.

If the child is already immune against measles, mumps and rubella and receive the vaccine,

their immune system will readily clear the vaccine attenuated viruses from their bodies.

18. Why not to use Measles vaccine instead of MMR vaccine in the campaign?

Both Measles and MMR vaccines are safe and effective. Measles vaccine is produced and

used only in few areas around the world. However, MMR vaccine is used worldwide in

immunization programs. It provides an extra advantage over the measles-only vaccine by

also giving protection against mumps and rubella, other highly contagious diseases.

Vaccination is the best, safest and most effective tool for protection against measles. In order to prevent measles, strengthen immunity and to eliminate the disease in the community, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends adherence to routine vaccination and implementing immunization campaigns.

The National Measles Immunization Campaign will be launched in the United Arab Emirates therefore Ministry of Health and other health authorities call the community to contribute to the success of the National campaign to ensure protecting the community against measles and to eliminate the disease from the UAE.

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Visit the nearesthealthcare centreTo get vaccinated against measle Phase 1: for 1-18 years

· Healthcare centres: during 1st – 26th November, 2015.

· School students: during academic year 2015 – 2016.

Vaccination is important toprotect the community

Vaccinate to protect

What is measles? How it is transmitted?Measles is a serious human illness that is highly contagious, caused by a virus.Measles may affect children or adults. It is highly contagious through the spread of viral particles that occurs when an infected person coughs or sneezes into the air. After an incubation period of approximately 10 days, measles initially produces symptoms of a bad cold with runny nose, conjunctivitis, cough, and high fever, which followed by a rash. The rash is a prominent red, that typically starts in the face and the head and descends through the body. People with measles are contagious four days before and four days after the rash appears.

Who are at risk for getting measles?

Unvaccinated young children or adults are at highest risk of measles and its complications, including death. Unvaccinated pregnant women are also at risk. Any non-immune person (who has not been vaccinated or was vaccinated but did not develop immunity) can become infected.

Is there any treatment for measles and how to prevent measles?

No specific antiviral treatment exists for measles virus.

How to prevent measles?

Vaccination is the best way to avoid catching measles through routine vaccination and immunization campaigns. The National Immunization Program is providing measles vaccine in a combined vaccine called MMR that protects against Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR).

Why MMR vaccination is so important?

Vaccination is the safest and most effective tool to prevent measles. MMR vaccine contains weekend strains of viruses that cause measles, mumps and rubella. These prepare the immune system to fight the diseases before being infected.

Who should receive the vaccine during the campaign?

All people from 1 to 34 years old should receive one dose of MMR vaccine during the UAE National Measles Campaign, to ensure full protection and elimination against the disease. Two phases will be implemented:• Phase one will be in November of 2015 and it

targets people from 1 to 18 years.• Phase two to be announced later, and it targets

people from 19 to 34 years.

Who should NOT get MMR vaccine?

• Who previously developed a severe reaction following MMR vaccination.

• Who are allergic to antibiotic neomycin.• People with health conditions which lowers

immunity (e.g. leukemia, cancer, HIV/AIDS) or who are undergoing treatment that lowers immunity (e.g. radiotherapy, chemotherapy and steroids).

• Moderately to critically sick people admitted in the hospital

• Pregnant women should not get the vaccine until after giving birth. Women should avoid getting pregnant for 4 weeks after vaccination with MMR vaccine.

Why is it important to implement measles campaign?

• The UAE is committed to implement the World Health Organization initiatives concerning eliminating measles disease through conducting routine vaccination programs and supplementary vaccination campaigns.

• To ensure eliminating the disease in the country, it is important to vaccinate people who are at risk.

• It is an opportunity to reach unvaccinated children or adults so as to increase their immunity against measles.

If my child took the vaccine during the campaign, does that mean they should not receive the vaccine during their routine vaccination program?

The dose the child will get during the campaign is an additional dose. It is important that children should still receive the complete series of routine vaccination doses.If the routine vaccination appointment was scheduled in the same period for the campaign, the dose/s which have been taken will be recorded twice; on the vaccination card and as part of the campaign records.

If a child has already been vaccinated with the recommended doses of measles vaccine, does he/she need the MMR vaccine?

The child needs to get the campaign dose regardless of the number of doses taken during the routine vaccination.

Is there a risk to give too many doses of MMR vaccine?

Receiving extra doses of MMR vaccine during the immunization campaigns is safe and cause no medical harm. During immunization campaigns, vaccination and disease history is not taking into consideration to decide whether to get vaccinated or not. Therefore, it is important for all target group to get vaccinated.

Is the vaccine safe?

Yes, the vaccine is very safe and it complies with the highest quality standards set by the World Health Organization.

Is there a link between MMR vaccine and autism?

No, scientists have carefully studied the MMR shot. None has found a link between autism and MMR vaccine.