In a step towards strengthening and re-energising routine immunisation for children, the UNICEF Odisha in collaboration with the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Odisha, organised a media sensitisation programme on ‘Intensified Mission Indradhanush’ (IMI) and Covid vaccine for children in three districts such as Jharsuguda, Keonjhar and Kendrapada.
Experts like Joint Director, Immunization, Dept of Health and Family Welfare Dr Prativa Pradhan, Child Health Manager RI Dr Sashibhusan Panda, ADPHO (FW) Keonjhar Dr Pranatini Nayak, ADPHO(FW), Kendrapada Dr Sachidananda Mishra, ADPHO(FW), Jharsuguda Dr Suprava Barik and DrAnil Patnaik from UNICEF spoke on the occasion.
Dr Anil Patnaik highlighted the importance of immunisation of children and the role of media in sensitising it.
“The Universal Immunisation Programme is one of the largest immunisation programmes in the world where we are aiming to vaccinate around 3 crore pregnant women and 2.7crore new born babies. Similarly in Odisha, around 9.5 lakh pregnant women and 8lakh newborn babies are vaccinated every year. Under the Universal Immunisation Programme,immunisation against 12 diseases including tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, polio, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hemophilia, diarrhoea, pneumonia, measles, Germany Measles and Japanese Fever is provided,” he told.
Speaking on the Government initiatives to continue the routine immunisation during the pandemic, Dr Prativa Pradhan said, “Despite the Covid restrictions, routine immunisation remained a focus area for
the State Government.”
While the health workers were busy with Covid duties, special
vaccinators were outsourced to keep the regular immunisation in place.
Even in the containment zones special vaccination drives were held for
immunisation of children. With all these measures, Odisha has topped
the country with 90.5% of full immunisation coverage, she said.
Speaking on Keonjhar’s immunisation coverage status, Dr Pranatini
Nayak said, “Although it’s a tribal district, our achievement in all
aspects has been good, be it in full immunisation, pregnant women or
Mission Indradhanush. Although we were a bit behind the target that
was given to us for full immunisation yet we have achieved 99% till
today through Mission Indradhanus. Similarly in Covid vaccination, we
achieved 93.2% and 92% in the first and second dose respectively of
Covishield. In Covaxin and Corbevax, we achieved 96% and 107 %,
respectively. But in the precaution dose for the age of 60 and above,
the coverage is not enough, as people have become a bit liberal
towards Covid and the awareness for precaution needs to be strong.”