Under the government of India’s national immunization programme to prevent childhood diseases, the pentavalent vaccine and Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine (IPV) would be introduced in North Eastern states by this October.
This was informed during regional media sensitization and communication workshop for pentavalent and IPV introduction held at Indian Institute of Bank Management (IIBM), Khanapara Guwahati Assam on September 29.
The programme was organized by Regional Resource Centre for NE (A branch of National Health Systems Resource Centre) in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
During the programme it was informed that Pentavalent vaccine would replace the current Hepatitis B and DPT primary vaccination in the immunization programme.
It said Pentavalent reduces the number of pricks to a child (from 6 to 3) and protect a child against 5 life-threatening diseases- Diphtherai, Pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B and Hib. It was informed that Hib vaccine can prevent serious diseases caused by Haemophilus influenza type b like pneumonia, meningitis, bacteremia, epiglottitis, septic arthritis etc.
One of the resource persons, senior consultant (PHP) Regional Resource Centre (RRC) North East Dr. Hitesh Deka spoke on “overview of routine immunization programme in NE states in national context”.
He disclosed that as per the immunization coverage report ( DLHS 2012-13) in Nagaland 18.9% children (between 12-23 months) have not receive any vaccination and that 45% children have been partially immunized and 36 % fully immunized.
Dr. Deka said this was because of various reasons like, 32.6% did not feel the need to vaccine, 35.9% do not know about vaccine, 8.6% do not know where to go for vaccination , 6.6% time not convenient, 12.8% fear of side effects, 11% do not have time, 0.4% wrong advice by someone and 3.7% cannot afford the cost.
Health Officer UNICEF – NE states Dr. Mangesh Ghadari informed that Assam has already launched Pentavalent vaccine in January 2015 and other 7 NE states will follow the same October.
Dr. Ghadari said pentavalent vaccine will help re-strengthen overall immunization system and ensure improvements in coverage and quality of routine immunization. He also spoke on “key facts about pentavalent vaccine, revised national immunization schedule, operational guidelines for pentavalent vaccine”.
It may be mentioned that Globally, Hib kills more than 370,000 children under five every year, nearly 20% of these children die in India.
126 countries including India have taken steps to continue protecting its children against polio with the introduction of IPV in 2015. The introduction is part of the Polio Endgame Strategy. The IPV will be available free to millions of children in India at the routine immunization sessions through the country’s public health delivery systems.
Sources said while the use of OPV has successfully reduced polio cases by 99% worldwide, adding IPV to the routine immunization programme will further improve the immunity of children against polio and help prevent polio outbreaks.
Health specialist UNICEF –NE states Dr. Sameer Pawar spoke on “polio endgame strategy and IPV introduction challenges in India”, Veena Kumari UNICEF spoke on “key components of communication strategy for pentavalent/IPV state launch, advocacy, social and community mobilization, visibility and AEFI communication plan” , Samudra Gupta Kashyap from Indian Express spoke on “how to handle the media and handling AEFI during crisis” while Dr. Joydeep Das, RRC- NE highlighted the “overview of the workshop”
A team of 17 members under medical department under Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, Nagaland consisting including MO (UIP), District Media Officers, Family Welfare Assistant, Deputy MEIO, State IEC and three journalists from Nagaland Post, The Morung Express and Nagaland Page was led by Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), Nagaland MO Dr. G.R. Rio.
Media representatives (private and government) from all North East states except Assam attended the workshop.