Nationwide Rollout of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine: Relevance
- GS 2: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population.
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Nationwide Rollout of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine: Context
- Recently, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched Nationwide expansion of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP).
Nationwide Rollout of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine: Key points
- PCV vaccine in India was launched as a part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
- It is for the first time in the country that PCV will be available for universal use.
- The nationwide rollout of PCV will reduce child mortality by around 60 percent.
- The ministry has also released Communication package (IEC material) on PCV to create mass awareness.
- The objective of the vaccine is to save the lives of the children and it would be possible when a successful awareness campaign will be conducted across the country.
National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)
About Pneumonia
- Pneumococcal disease refers to any illness caused by pneumococcal bacteria.
- These bacteria can cause many types of illnesses, including pneumonia, which is an infection of the lungs.
- Pneumococcal bacteria are one of the most common causes of pneumonia.
- Pneumonia, caused by pneumococcus, is the most common cause of severe pneumonia in children.
- In India around 16 percent of deaths in Children occur due to pneumonia.
Malaria Disease
About UIP
- Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) is one of the largest public health programmes targeting close to 26.7 million newborns and 29 million pregnant women annually.
- Under UIP, immunization is being provided free of cost against 12 vaccine preventable diseases:
- Nationally against 10 diseases – Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, Rubella, severe form of Childhood Tuberculosis, Rotavirus diarrhea, Hepatitis B and Meningitis & Pneumonia caused by Haemophilus Influenzae type B.
- Sub-nationally against 2 diseases – Pneumococcal Pneumonia and Japanese Encephalitis; of which Pneumococcal Conjugate vaccine is nationally expanded today, while JE vaccine is provided only in endemic districts.