Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei yesterday called for public participation in the national measles and rubella vaccination campaign.
In a meeting with the health minister and officials in charge of the vaccination program, the Leader said all organizations should cooperate with the Health Ministry in this project. He described the campaign as a great service to the people, the country, and the future of the nation. Ayatollah Khamenei added that Islam highly recommends such public service.
The Leader highlighted the significance of campaigns to prevent diseases in boosting health standards and thanked Basij forces, health officials, and others for their hard work in the immunization campaign.
The mass media should disseminate information about different dimensions of this national campaign in order to encourage people to participate.
Prior to the Leader's speech, Health Minister Masoud Pezeshkian said that 33 million people will be immunized against the two diseases in the campaign, which will result in the eradication of measles and rubella in the country in the near future. Pezeshkian referred to the fact that poliomyelitis and tetanus had been eradicated in Iran, saying, "This great achievement is the result of cooperation between the Ministry of Health, the Basij, the Ministry of Education, and other national organizations that are also cooperating in the current campaign."
The national measles and rubella vaccination campaign begins today and will last for one month.