The Center has launched a large–scale anti–measles campaign to control the large number of deaths by measles every year.

More than 13 crore children are expected to be covered under the Measles Catch–up Campaign, irrespective of their previous measles vaccination status.

According to an official release, the vaccination programme will target primary schools children aged up to 10 years. It has been launched in 14 States including Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

The routine immunisation coverage in these states is less than 80 per cent. The drive has been jointly launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of Human Resource Development.

The HRD Ministry has also written to the State Education Departments to set up a State Steering Committee for implementing the campaign.

Measles is a highly infectious disease which is contracted by children with low immunity and can cause acute respiratory problems, diarrhoea, and pneumonia. The disease can also result in disabilities such as visual impairment.