DAR ES SALAAM, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- More than 600,000 pupils in 708 public and private primary schools in Tanzania's business capital Dar es Salaam were set to receive vaccine against bilharzia in a massive campaign launched on Thursday.

Grace Magembe, Dar es Salaam city health officer, said the campaign will target primary school pupils aged between 5 and 14 years.

Magembe said the vaccination will be administered both in schools and health centers in the East African nation's commercial capital.

Paul Makonda, Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner who launched the campaign, said the initiative was aimed at ensuring that children can properly pursue education without interference of sicknesses.

He urged parents, teachers and guardians to support the campaign for the wellbeing of the children.

Bilharzia, a parasitical disease which is usually spread by swimming in contaminated water, is widespread in Tanzania among children, and transmission tends to coincide with the rainy season.

Mass drug administration using praziquantel, currently used as a key intervention measure, has not been successful in decreasing prevalence of infection.