Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda launched the country’s rotavirus vaccine programme here on Saturday. The vaccine protects children from diarrhoea.
The vaccine would be available free of cost at public healthcare centres initially in four States, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
“We aim to immunise 27 million children across the country to prevent diseases caused by rotavirus,” said the Union Minister.
This contagious virus is the most common cause of severe diarrhoea among children, leading to hospitalisation and death, said Nadda, adding, “Introduction of Rotavirus vaccine as a Make in India initiative will bring a change in health scenario of the children, lessening their hospitalisation and other conditions associated with diarrhoea.
The National Technical Advisory Group on vaccines had recommended the phased introduction of rotavirus vaccine in the country’s UIP. The vaccine would be given to children aged from six weeks to five years.
The vaccine was launched in Odisha as it records highest diarrhoea cases among the four above mentioned States and many children die due to improper treatment.
Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the vaccine intake would help alleviate children’s health problems created by rotavirus, mostly in the monsoon months. He also said that 3,000 generic medicine stores would be opened in the State soon.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak congratulated the Health Ministry for introducing the vaccine in the UIP.
Currently, 9.2 per cent of Odisha’s total disease burdens are diarrhoea patients. The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in Odisha is 51 per 1,000 live births while the mortality rate of children under five years is 68 per 1,000 births, both higher than the other States.
The diarrhoea burden due to rotavirus in Andhra Pradesh stands at eight per cent while the figures in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh are 8.5 per cent and 5.5 per cent, respectively.
Among others, Health Ministry Additional Secretary and NHM MD CK Mishra and Joint Secretary Dr Rakesh Kumar and State Health Secretary Arti Ahuja were present.