Health minister launches pneumonia vaccine

Health minister launches pneumonia vaccine

New Delhi: There was another addition to the basket of vaccines under India’s universal immunization (सार्वभौमिक टीकाकरण) programme— Mission Indradhanush, with Union health minister, JP nadda, on
Saturday launching a pneumococcal conjugate(एकत्रित) vaccine. The vaccine protects a child against severe forms of pneumococcal disease. Introducing the vaccine at a function in this Himachal Pradesh town, Nadda emphasized(पर बल दिया) upon the need for use of vaccines to protect children against diseases that are vaccine preventable.  “No child should die in the country from vaccine preventable diseases is the goal and commitment of our government. Strengthening routine immunization is an essential investment in India’s children and will ensure a healthy future of the country.”

The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine protects children against severe forms of pneumococcal disease such as pneumonia and meningitis.

The vaccine is being rolled out to approximately 21 lakh children in Himachal Pradesh and parts of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in the first phase.

This will be followed by introduction in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan next year and eventually be expanded throughout the country in a phased manner.

“Government has taken notable steps in the direction of total immunization,” he said.

Under Mission Indradhanush more than 2.6 crore beneficiaries have been immunised. From 1% annual increase in coverage of full immunisation, Mission Indradhanush has resulted in a 6.7% annual expansion in the immunisation cover.

“The immunisation programme started with providing protection against six vaccine preventable diseases, it will now offer protection to our children from 12 diseases,” he said.

All these vaccines have been available in the private sector for many years, not only in India but also across the world.

“While these vaccines in the private sector were accessible to only those who could afford them, by making them available under the UIP (Universal Immunisation Programme), the government is ensuring equitable access to those who need them the most,” he said.

Programme— Mission Indradhanush ( 25 December 2014)

Full immunization against preventable childhood diseases is the right of every child. With a view to provide this right to every child, the Government of India launched the Universal Immunization Program (UIP) in 1985, one of the largest health programs of its kind in the world.

Despite being operational for over 30 years, UIP has been able to fully immunize only 65% children in the first year of their life and the increase in coverage has stagnated(स्थिर होना) in the past 5 years to an average of 1% every year.

To strengthen and invigorate (का लाभ) the program and achieve full immunization coverage for all children at a rapid pace, the Government of India launched Mission Indradhanush in December 2014.

Mission Indradhanush will ensure that all children under the age of two years and pregnant women are fully immunized with all available vaccines.

VACCINATION SCHEDULE

WHENVACCINE
AT BIRTH- BCG, OPV, HEP B
6 WEEKS -OPV, DPT*, HEP B*
10 WEEKS-OPV, DPT*, HEP B*
14 WEEKSIPV, OPV, DPT*, HEP B*
9-12 MONTHSMEASLES, VITAMIN A, JE**
16-24 MONTHSMEASLES, VITAMIN A, JE**, OPV BOOSTER, DPT BOOSTER
5-6 YEARS-DPT BOOSTER
This vaccine will protect your child from Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus

10 & 16 YEARSTT (TETANUS TOXOID)
*In selected states Pentavalent vaccine (Hepatitis B, Diphtheria, Pertussis(काली खांसी), Tetanus and Haemophilus influenzae type b) is given instead of DPT and Hep B.
**In Japanese Encephalitis (JE) endemic districts.
3rd to 9th doses of Vitamin A are given at 6 monthly intervals to children 2 -5 years old.
For pregnant women: Give TT-2 or Booster doses before 36 weeks of pregnancy. However, give these even if more than 36 weeks have passed. Give TT to a woman in labour, if she has not previously received TT.