Children Below 5 Yrs To Get Three Doses Of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government on Wednesday launched Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV ) for children below 5 years to protect them from pneumonia and reduce child deaths.

The PCV vaccine will benefit nearly 8 lakh young children annually and will reduce the risk of illness and death due to severe pneumonia.

Each child will require three doses of the vaccine – the first dose at 6 weeks of age, the second at 14 weeks and a booster dose at 9 months of age in order to get full protection from pneumonia which is one of the leading causes of deaths among children below 5 years.

Speaking at the launch, Health Minister Naba Kishore Das said:

Odisha State has always given priority for providing quality health services for children to rapidly reduce both infant and under-5 morbidity & mortality. Immunization is
one of the key interventions to reduce infant morbidity & mortality. PCV vaccine in the State under Routine Immunization Programme, will further protect our children from diseases like Pneumonia and meningitis.
He also praised the District administration and Health
care workers for their relentless service during Covid-19 Pandemic and Odisha is doing best in Covid Vaccination. Even during this Covid 19 Pandemic other health services like, Routine Immunization, maternal and child health services are continuing due to the effort of Health care workers.

Additional Chief Secretary, Health & FW Department Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra said:

Immunization Programme is one of the largest public health programme in the Country and is one of the most cost effective health investment. State achieved more than 85% full immunization coverage because of sincere efforts of healthcare personnel even during Covid 19 pandemic. After addition of PCV vaccine state will provide Vaccine for 12 Vaccine Preventable diseases to protect 8 lakhs of children in the State every year.
Steps like Cold chain assessment, training IEC material development have been taken up for success of the introduction of PCV Vaccine.

The vaccine will be given to children as part of the Routine Immunization schedule. The first two doses at 6 weeks and 14 weeks will be combined with Oral Polio vaccine, Rota vaccine, Pentavalent, fPV. For the booster dose, this vaccine will be given to the child at 9 months along with measles, Vitamin A and JE.

Shalini Pandit, Mission Director, National Health Mission said:

Pneumococcal Pneumonia is major threat for child survival and it accounts for 18% of all severe Pneumonia cases and 33% of all Pneumonia death in India.

Children under 5 years of age and specially those under two years age are the most at risk for developing and dying from Pneumonia.

Under NHM, the State is implementing the Childhood Pneumonia Management programme (SAANS) and the Integrated Action Plan for prevention of Pneumonia & diarrhea (IAPPD) guidelines in all the districts focusing on HWCs.

Our health workforce is well trained & equipped for PCV vaccine introduction in RI programme and hope that State will carry out the vaccination smoothly with an objective to reduce IMR and Under-5 morbidity & mortality in the State.

The specific benefits of PCV are:

• This vaccine will prevent deaths due to pneumonia and meningitis caused by bacteria known as Streptococcus Pneumoniae that accounts for nearly 16% of all deaths of children below 5.
• PCV vaccine will also help in preventing 36% cases of severe pneumonia.
• This vaccine will also lead to reduction in use of antibiotics for treatment thereby decreasing the risk of the bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics.

Dr. Bijaya Kumar Panigrahy, Director of Family Welfare said:

Pneumonia is one of the leading cause of death in under five children. It contributes to 15% under 5 mortality.
Pneumococcal pneumonia is the most common cause of severe Pneumonia and a significant cause of morbidity & mortality in the under five children. Introduction of PCV in the Routine Immunization Programme will definitely prevent these Pneumococcal disease & deaths due to Pneumonia.

To ensure the new vaccine is introduced successfully and the field staff is trained to incorporate it into the RI schedule, the government has been supported by partner agencies including UNICEF to build capacity of Medical Officers, ANMs, Cold chain handlers  and also development of IEC materials.

UNICEF Odisha, Chief of Field Office Monika O. Nielsen said:

The pneumococcal vaccine introduction into the routine immunization will help further the state’s commitment to reduce the under-five mortality. Odisha has always been at the forefront in its initiatives towards addressing Under five mortality and morbidity. With this valuable vaccine even the children in the farthermost tribal regions are protected from the pneumococcal diseases. UNICEF  is committed in this initiative to support the state, like all initiatives for the survival and wellbeing of children, So that they survive and thrive to their fullest potential.

Along with PCV vaccine, it is important to ensure all children are exclusively breastfed for the first six months, receive proper nutrition and grow in a hygienic environment without exposure to indoor smoke, to protect them from illness such as pneumonia.