Ministry of Education has instructed all schools to provide information on vaccination records of students.
In a circular sent to all schools, including government and private schools, the education ministry instructed schools to provide vaccination records of students through Maldives Educational Management Information Systems (MEMIS). The ministry gave the instruction at a time the administration stepped up efforts to take preventive measures against an outbreak of measles.
Schools have been asked to report information on unvaccinated students to the health and safety section of the education ministry. Any students found to have an incomplete vaccination record will be vaccinated through the health and safety section or the vaccination programme conducted by Health Protection Agency (HPA).
The education ministry has decided to ensure all students enrolling in a school, including students who change schools, have completed all vaccination doses in accordance to the vaccination schedule of HPA. While the standard procedure mandates schools to ensure students are vaccinated before enrolling them, there have been reports of unvaccinated students enrolled in some schools. The ministry has made a public request to report any such information.
On January 13, the administration announced measles is spreading in Maldives and launched a vaccination programme. While 3 individuals have been tested positive for measles, over 1,200 people have been vaccinated under the programme.