The district has started training programme in preparation of the trial launch of the pentavalent vaccine as part of the recommendation of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation.
The two southern states to roll out the vaccine as per the recommendation are Kerala and Tamil Nadu where immunisation percentage is much higher than the rest of the country.
Two new vaccines
The pentavalent vaccine would be administered to children from December 14 onwards and it includes two new vaccines, Hepatitis B and the Hib (Haemophillus influenza type B) vaccine along with the triple protection vaccine for diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus (DPT). The new vaccines are said to protect against hepatitis B infection, pneumonia and meningitis.
Instruction for staff
The field staff of the Health department was provided training on Friday on the launch of the new group of vaccines. Over a 100 doctors in the district in-charge of primary health centres, community health centres and paediatricians in the taluk, women and child and general hospitals would be given training on Saturday at the Aluva Blood Bank conference hall.
An inter-sectoral meeting in this regard will be held early next week and an orientation programme for the people's representatives will be held in the first week of December.
