BioVoice News August 2016 Issue 4 Volume 1 | Page 17

2016 . Japanese Encephalitis ( JE ) vaccine is given in districts with JE disease burden called JE endemic districts and as on date all 197 JE endemic districts across 19 states are covered for providing Japanese Encephalitis ( JE ) vaccine .
All States and Union Territories are providing Haemophilus influenza type B vaccine which is provided in a combination of five vaccines i . e . Pentavalent vaccine .
As per the government sources , the Mission Indradhanush aims to increase full immunization coverage in India to at least 90 percent children by 2020 . Full immunization coverage has increased by about 5-7 percent after the launch of this mission . During the first and second phase of operation , about 148.4 lakh children were vaccinated of which 38.7 lakh children were fully immunized . In addition , 38.1 lakh pregnant women were vaccinated with tetanus toxoid vaccine .
Vaccine phobia a global syndrome ?
World Health Organization ( WHO ) too has been carrying out Acute Flaccid Paralysis ( AFP ) surveillance where all suspected cases of Acute Flaccid Paralysis are examined to rule out polio . The suspected case in Uttar Pradesh investigated by WHO and result of the two stool samples pertaining to this case , tested in the laboratory reported that there is no poliovirus .
India is not alone but there are many countries where few antivaccination campaigns have tried to justify opposition to vaccines . In fact , the war torn nations or those with authoritarian regimes don ’ t even care to talk about such initiatives . Yet , there is a section of intellectuals even in well developed nations who have called for a choice to choose the vaccines .
Let is just take one example of Australia where there is a forum called as Australian Vaccination Skeptics Network that propagates the theory that vaccination might not be of any help to prevent diseases . In fact , a study published in the Medical Journal of Australia analyzed the Australian Immunization Register between 2002 and 2013 for children aged between one and six years old . The author of this study , Dr Frank Beard , University of Sydney found that the number of parents registering objection increased from 1.1 percent to 2 percent between 2002 and 2013 . So , the impact of anti-vaccination drives can ’ t be just ignored or pushed under the carpet .
While the arguments around pros and cons of vaccines rages , few experts say that it is the time government adds some seriousness to it . In a country like in India , few argue that it should be made legally mandatory to undergo vaccination to avail the incentives from other government run schemes . The suggestion surely is debatable but we must remember that we cannot let the children in India die due to a disease which is preventable . It surely wouldn ’ t be considered a sign of a progressive nation . The awareness and words of mouth from every household is the key .
MISSION INDRADHANUSH COVERAGE REPORT ( PHASE-1 & 2 )
S . No
Indicator
Phase 1
Phase 2
Total
1
No . of sessions held
9.7
11.6
21.3
2
No . of antigen administered
191.9
174.9
366.8
3
No . of pregnant women immunized
21.1
17
38.1
4
No . of pregnant women completely immunized
11.2
9
20.2
5
No . of children immunized
76.8
71.6
148.4
6
No . of children fully immunized
20.2
18.5
38.7
7
No . of children vaccinated for the first time
N / A
9.3
9.3
8
No . of Vit A doses administered
20.5
21.2
41.7
9
No . of ORS packets distributed
17.1
13.9
31
10
No . of zinc tablets distributed
57.3
45.2
102.5
Credit : Ministry of Health , GOI .
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