Port-au-Prince.- Supported by the U.S. government, U.N. agencies and non-governmental organizations, the Haitian authorities started today a vaccination campaign as part of vaccination campaign aimed at preventing infectious diseases in the country.

The nationwide campaign will givemore than 2.5 million Haitian children, from newborns up to the age of nine, vaccines against measles, rubella and polio. Vitamin A and de-worming medicine will also be provided to combat tetanus. Immunizations will be staggered and are free of charge.

According to Haiti’s health ministry, over the past week, thousands of Red Cross volunteers across the country have been visiting Haitian families from door to door and tent to tent, to encourage mothers to get their children vaccinated.