The ‘five in one’ pentavalent vaccine under the universal immunisation programme of the Government of India is expected to be launched in Telangana between May 11 and 12, while in Andhra Pradesh it will be launched on May 7.
After the formal launch, the health authorities will merge the pentavalent vaccine into the ongoing routine immunisation programmes in both the States.
The preliminary works like holding convergence meetings at State and district level periodically for inter-departmental coordination, training close to 80,000 health care workers have already been done.
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According to health authorities, close to 6.31 lakh infants in Telangana and 8.36 lakh in Andhra Pradesh will benefit from the pentavalent vaccine annually.
Health experts from a host of agencies, including health departments from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, WHO, UNICEF and Indian Academy of Paediatrics on Tuesday interacted with press persons on the pentavalent vaccines. Towards capacity building, the local health care workers including Anganwadi, ANC, nurses and even doctors in both the States have been given proper training.
“We are hoping that in Telangana, the vaccine will be formally launched between May 11 and 12 in Warangal. We are finalising the exact date,” said Joint Director, Child Health and Immunisation (CHI), Dr. Jai Kumar. The JD, CHI for Andhra Pradesh, Dr. Joga Rao, said that Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N. Chandrababu Naidu would formally launch the programme on May 7 from Tirupati.
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The single shot of pentavalent vaccine will provide protection to infants from five life-threatening ailments, including Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus (DPT), Hepatitis B and pneumonia due to Hib (Haemophilus influenza type b). Since 2011, the Union Government has been introducing pentavalent vaccine in a phased manner in Kerala, Karnataka, Pondicherry, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir and Delhi.
Experts made it clear that the vaccine is safe for use.
“Since 2011, this vaccine has been successfully implemented in several States in India. There is not a single incident so far that directly correlates an adverse reaction to this vaccine in these States.”
“This vaccine was long time coming as private paediatric doctors in Hyderabad and elsewhere are administering similar vaccines for a decade now,” said senior IAP member, Dr. P. Sudershan Reddy.