Cuttack: The district administration will launch a vaccination drive to combat measles-rubella.

Starting January 29, the campaign will continue for five weeks as part of the state government's drive to implement the National Immunisation Programme to eradicate the disease.

"Nearly 6.5 lakh children, aged between nine months and 15 years, will be vaccinated during the campaign," chief district medical officer Biswa Kalyan Patnaik said.

"The vaccination drive will be carried out in 3,396 government and aided high schools," Patnaik said, adding that the assistance of municipal councillors was being sought to ensure that children in playschools were not left out.

Odisha is the 10th state to introduce the new measles-rubella vaccine in the country. The state has sought 1.40 crore vaccines.

The measles vaccine has been a part of the routine immunisation programme in the state with the coverage of around 88 per cent, while rubella will be introduced for the first time.

Three cases of measles and six of rubella have been reported in Bhubaneswar this year.

Tangi also reported a measles case. While five of the six cases occurred in the slums, one was reported from a private boarding school. Among the coastal districts, Balasore tops the list with a number of outbreaks last year. Surveillance for measles and rubella had been started in 2013.

"Both the diseases can be prevented in vulnerable children with a single dose of the vaccine. The target is to eradicate the disease by 2020," additional district medical officer and nodal officer for the vaccination programme Batakrushna Mahala said.