A new vaccine was introduced by the Paradip Port Trust (PPT) Hospital on the World Immunisation Day on Wednesday. PPT Deputy Chairman N Vaiyapuri inaugurated the celebration by launching the new vaccine amid a gathering of hospital CMO Dr P Panda, doctors, health workers and Mahila Samity members of Paradip Sakshyarata Samity.
This was followed by an interactive session presided over by Dr PC Dixit, MO I/C. Biju Memorial Hospital, Paradip and participated by Dr Deepak Kumar Kar, SMO, WHO, and Dr Prabhat Kumar Bastia, ADMO (FW & Immunisation), Jagatsinghpur district and attended by many others.
Dr Kar emphasised on the importance of people benefitting from the vaccine programmes in the Government hospitals as the vaccine maintenance programmes are available only in the Government health centres. Advertising vaccination schedules in banners with logos of the State Government and PPT at strategic locations of the town like PPT Hospital, bust stand and major establishments was suggested.
Dr Bastia highlighted the significant reduction in the infant mortality rate following implementation of the vaccination programmes. Incidences of smallpox, polio and tetanus have been thoroughly eradicated ever since the programmes are implemented, he said.
The session witnessed a PowerPoint presentation by Dr Runu Singh, MO, PPT Hospital, giving succinct information about the milestones of the immunisation programmes. Key messages of immunisation such as informing people about the vaccine in relation with disease, what is time schedule for taking the vaccine were advised to be spread among people. ASHA workers were urged to realise importance of taking feedback of people who have undergone vaccination. This has been authenticated by the medical system of Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFI) which will help win people’s confidence in the immunisation programmes at large.