Health Protection Agency has stated that they are working to bring measles vaccines for those who have not received their second dose.

While speaking on PSM's Raajje Miyadhu program, HPA's Public Health Director Naashiya Abdul Ghafoor said that they are taking safety measures against measles, a viral disease that was thought to have been rid of in Maldives, only for cases of it having emerged. 

Their safety measures include offering the second dose of the vaccine to those who have measles, those who have been in contact with people who have been infected and those who are working in the health sector, said Naashiya.

Nine people have been confirmed to have measles this year. Of the nine people, six have been confirmed to have the disease and have been reported, as was said by HPA.

Naashiya went on to say that efforts have begun to import vaccines so that more people can get their dose.  

"We are working to import vaccines so that we can give people their doses in the coming days, and so that we can provide the vaccines to those among the general public who have not received their second dose," said Naashiya.

Children receive their first MR vaccine dose for measles and rubella at nine months. The second dose is administered at 18 months. By completing that coverage, there is a 97 percent decrease in contracting the disease.

However, a vaccine campaign was conducted in 2017 due to the spread of the disease.

HPA's Public Health Coordinator Mohamed Hamzath said that even with two doses, there is still a chance of infection. With vaccination the possibility of complications with a future infection will be mitigated. 

HPA has advised the public to complete two doses of vaccination.

India and Bangladesh had recorded additional deaths from measles infections while Maldives has been recording elevated cases of measles.