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Written By: Editorial Team | Updated : July 4, 2014 10:39 AM IST
On Thursday, the Indian government announced introduction of four new vaccines, including one for Japanese Encephalitis (JE), in the national immunization programme. The programme will now include free vaccines against 13 life-threatening diseases to 27 million children annually.
The introduction of vaccines for rotavirus, rubella and polio (injectable) as part of the universal immunization programme was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an official here said. The JE vaccine would be available for adults in 179 districts in nine states where the disease is highly prevalent. 'The introduction of four new lifesaving vaccines, will play a key role in reducing the childhood and infant mortality and morbidity in the country. 'Many of these vaccines are already available through private practitioners to those who can afford them. The government will now ensure that the benefits of vaccination reach all sections of the society, regardless of social and economic status,' said Modi.
'India is committed to tackle child mortality and provide health for all through multiple initiatives taken up by the government. Strengthening routine immunization is an essential investment in India's children and will ensure a healthy future for the country,' he said. The decision to introduce the vaccines represents one of the most significant policy initiatives in public health, the release said adding at least one lakh infant deaths and that of adults in working age group would be prevented by this decision. Diarrhoea caused by rotavirus kills nearly 80,00,000 children each year and results in up to 10 lakh hospitalizations, pushing many Indian families below the poverty line while rubella causes severe congenital defects in newborns. (Read: World Immunization week 2013: Your guide to vaccines)
The Injectable Polio Vaccine (IPV) is being introduced together with 125 countries in a globally synchronized manner. India has been certified polio free in March 2014 and the introduction of IPV in addition to the oral polio vaccine (OPV) will provide long lasting protection to the population against the virus. The recommendations to introduce new vaccines had been made by the National Technical Advisory Group of India (NTAGI), the country's apex scientific advisory body on immunization. (Read: Is a BCG vaccination important for my baby?)
Here are some recommended vaccines for your child
Even though you may not like injections inserted into your baby every few months, it is important that you make sure that you don't miss out on them. The pain of an injection will only last a few seconds but its benefits will make your baby immune from diseases for a long time. In this post, we'll tell you 10 vaccines that are recommended for your child.
1. BCG Vaccine
BCG vaccine or Bacillus Calmette-Guerin is a vaccine that most of us must have been administered during our childhood. It is administered using an intradermal injection in order to prevent the deadly tuberculosis. Read more about tuberculosis and how it can be deadly.
Ideally, it should be given within 12 months of the child being born.
2. OPV or Polio Vaccine
India has been successful in its battle against polio with WHO calling it a polio-free country. In India, it is given free of cost to all children under the Pulse Polio programme.
This vaccine is administered orally several times over a period of 5 years.
3. DPT Vaccine
DPT Vaccine is given to prevent not just one, but three diseases namely diphtheria, petrussis and tetanus. All three diseases have the potential to be fatal which makes this vaccine mandatory for every child.
Children should be given five doses of this vaccine. The first dose when the child is 2 months old. The second dose when the child is 4 months of age. The third dose when the child is 6 months of age. The fourth dose when the child is between 15 to 18 months of age. The fifth dose when the child is between 4 to 6 years of age.
4. Measles Vaccine
The measles vaccine is administered subcutaneously, i.e. just below the skin. It is mandatory to vaccinate you child with this vaccine as measles is a contagious viral infection that can progress to cause diarrhoea, pneumonia and in some cases even prove fatal.
It is given when the child is 9 months old. Read more about 10 vaccines recommended for your child
With inputs from IANS
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