The Ministry of Health hopes to get about 60,000 people vaccinated for measles by the end of the day as the Ministry had targeted to get about 380,000 people vaccinated during the mass vaccination campaign.
The Ministry had targeted the most vulnerable group which includes children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years and adults from the ages of 19 to 39 years old.
This has been confirmed by the Minister for Health, Dr. Ifereimi Waqainabete who says that as of yesterday, 325,000 people have been vaccinated.
The Minister had earlier said that they hope to conclude the mass vaccination campaign by the end of today.
Dr. Waqainabete says the decision to lift all restrictions that were in place due to the outbreak will be made by the Ministry when they have reached their target.
These restrictions include non-essential travel to Naikorokoro Village in Lami, Saumakia Village in Naitasiri, Serua/Namosi, and Nasilai Village in Nakelo Rewa and mass gathering of people in the Central Division.
He adds that if they are able to get the remaining number of people vaccinated by today, it will take up to 7 to 10 days for their immunity to kick in.
He says that if they cannot reach these numbers then the Ministry will find the places where they did not get the targeted numbers they had expected and will then vaccinate these people.
Meanwhile, there are now 24 confirmed cases of measles and the latest victim is a 3-month-old baby from Naikorokoro Village in Lami.
The baby is currently admitted in isolation at the CWM Hospital.
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