The Chief Medical Officer and Health Officer informed that the Government of India has decided to include Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PVC) in the Universal Immunization Program with effect from June 15, 2021 in routine immunization all over the country along with the state of Chhattisgarh. Pneumonia accounts for 80 percent of the deaths of children up to age, the said vaccine will prove to be helpful in providing protection to children to a great extent.
Apart from this, children will also be protected from pneumonia, meningitis, sinusitis, ear discharge and blood infection septicemia due to streptococcal infection, and the introduction of PVC vaccine will also reduce infant mortality significantly. The first dose of this vaccine will be given to the baby at the age of 6 weeks (one and a half months) along with other vaccines. The second dose will be given at the age of 14th week (3 and half months) and the third dose will be given at the age of 9 months along with MR vaccine. Although this vaccine is not new in our country, it is already being used in 146 countries. This vaccine is completely safe and effective.
Leave a Reply