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Written By: Agencies | Updated : March 14, 2014 12:34 PM IST
The Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) Thursday launched a new service which will alert parents about the immunisation schedule of their children through a text message on their mobile. The service was launched by the IAP, an association of child specialists in India, in collaboration with telecommunications company Vodafone. The world's largest vaccination reminder service aims to prevent 500,000 child deaths and disabilities by 2018, C.K. Mishra, additional secretary in the union health ministry said at the launch.
The reminder service will be available free of cost for parents across the country and they can opt for the service by sending a text message to the national code 566778 from any mobile network in India. The parents will receive immediate confirmation through a text message and will be reminded for 12 years, the prescribed immunisation schedule for their child. A total of three reminders would be sent, at two-day intervals, for each vaccination due. (Read: 10 vaccines recommended for your child).
Parents opt-in to the service by sending a text message by SMS to the national shortcode 566778 from any mobile phone in India, in the following format*** :
Immunize <Space> <Baby's pet name> < Space> <Baby's date of birth>
Example : Immunize Rekha 04-11-2013
The phone will immediately receive a confirmation message.
Text message reminders** will be sent to the phone for 12 years, following the IAPCOI prescribed immunization schedule.
Vijay N. Yewale, president, IAP said: 'Today almost two million children under the age of five years die every year in India and another one million or more are disabled for life. Vaccination reminder services in several countries have been effective in increasing compliance by 20 percent'. Rohit Adya, external affairs director, Vodafone India, said: 'Vodafone recognises the power of mobile technology to address some of India's most pressing challenges. Our partnership with the IAP is in line with this commitment and we will play our due role to facilitate creating a healthier future for our children'. (Read: 8 ways to make your baby's vaccination appointment easy (Gallery))
Mishra said: 'It will be a sad story if India is not able to stop vaccine preventable diseases'.
Source: IANS
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