When the Measles case was reported last week, most of us hurried to make sure we were vaccinated. While some of us gathered our vaccination cards and leaflets, most Maldivians over the age of 40 had no documents regarding vaccinations.

As of today, a total of three people have been tested positive for Measles.

The Ministry of Health and health service providers have joined together to initiate a vaccination campaign. However, as a result of low supplies, the government has decided to focus on vaccinating people below the age of 40.

Nevertheless, the Ministry has announced that a shipment of vaccines, enough for 200,000 people are on its way to the country, and should reach in 10 days.

Were people born before 1980 vaccinated?

According to popular pediatrician, Dr Abdulla Niyaf, people born before 1980 were not vaccinated as the Measles vaccine were not introduced in the country. Afterwards until 2007, only one dose of Measles vaccine was administered to children. Furthermore, Dr Niyaf said that in the MR campaigns that were held in 2005, 2006 and 2017, the second dose of MR shot or vaccine were given.

If you were born before 1980 - you were born before we started measles vaccination in 🇲🇻
If between then and 2007: you may have got 1 dose at 9m. In 2007 🇲🇻 started MMR.
If you had an MR shot in the MR campaigns of 2005-6 &/or 2017, count that too.
If you reach a total of 2 👍🏼👍🏼

— Abdulla Niyaf (@niyaf) January 13, 2020

How can you identify if you were vaccinated from the vaccination card/leaflet?

Children born in the Maldives are provided with a vaccination card/leaflet which contains the vaccination and supplement timetable until the age of 5.

The vaccine named as Measles which is given at 9 months, is the first dose of Measles vaccination. This dose provides 93% protection against the disease. The second dose is given at 18 months and is named as MMR vaccine. With this dose, the percentage of protection from the disease increases to 97%.

9 month: Measles/MR ✔️
18 months: MMR ✔️

That’s 2 ✔️
👍🏼👍🏼

— Abdulla Niyaf (@niyaf) January 13, 2020

If I had Measles once, will I get it again?

This was a regular question asked by many. Dr Niyaf answered this question on twitter, and he said that if a person was infected with Measles, and he/she recovers, the chance of that person getting Measles again is small. 

Dr Niyaf noted that if a person is unsure of getting vaccines, the safest thing to do is to get the shot and be sure.

If previously infected and recovered - maybe immune.
As the disease used to be much more common before the vaccination era, the survivors from the era are likely to have had and recovered with immunity.
But if neither that nor vaccinated: susceptible still.

— Abdulla Niyaf (@niyaf) January 13, 2020

Measles is a deadly virus that is air-borne. It spreads through coughing and sneezing. Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, pink eye and a red rash.

Maldives was declared as a Measles-free country in 2017. HPA has advised the public to complete the 2 doses of vaccines to prevent an outbreak.

People that experience fever and tiny spots on the skin are advised to seek professional help from a hospital or healthcare center.

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