On December 9, 2019 Médecins Sans Frontières began a multi-antigen vaccination campaign for children living in Moria camp, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and with the support of medical organisations Kitrinos and Medical Volunteers International. Children between 2 months old and 15 years old living in Moria RIC will be vaccinated against common childhood diseases pneumococcus, measles, rubella and mumps (MMR & PCV).
“There are about 4,500 children living in the camp in severely overcrowded and filthy conditions, which, coupled with winter conditions, leaves them extremely susceptible to illness. Vaccinating these children is the absolute minimum that must be done and the Ministry of Health must ensure that all children arriving to the islands are routinely vaccinated. Vaccination is a necessity not luxury. “ says Marco Sandrone, MSF’s field coordinator in Lesbos.