This story is from September 19, 2021

West Bengal may roll out children pneumonia vaccine from civic clinics in October

Bengal is set to roll out the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) for children from October as part of the routine immunization programme. The vaccine, which protects children against diseases like pneumonia and meningitis, is being rolled out in phases across the country. Some states have already launched it. Even as the state health department is yet to finalize the date, sources at Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) indicated that it could be launched on October 7 at clinics run by the civic body.
West Bengal may roll out children pneumonia vaccine from civic clinics in October
Image used for representational purpose
KOLKATA: Bengal is set to roll out the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) for children from October as part of the routine immunization programme. The vaccine, which protects children against diseases like pneumonia and meningitis, is being rolled out in phases across the country. Some states have already launched it. Even as the state health department is yet to finalize the date, sources at Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) indicated that it could be launched on October 7 at clinics run by the civic body.
“This will be the 12th vaccine to be included in the routine immunization programme.
We expect training of all personnel, who will have roles to play in the roll out, to be completed by Septemberend,” said Ashim Das Malakar, state family welfare officer.
Even as the vaccine is crucial to prevent children from pneumococcal infections, so far children are getting this vaccine only at private chambers or private heath units. The cost being a major deterrent for many parents.
“Pneumococcal infection is caused by the bacteria streptococcus pneumonia and can lead to severe invasive pneumococcal diseases - pneumonia, meningitis, septicemia, ear and throat infection. So, the vaccine can help to restrict infant mortality,” said Institute of Child Health associate professor Prabhas Prasun Giri.
KMC medical officers at the ward and borough levels are undergoing a training for an effective implementation of the vaccination scheme.
“We have sent our medical officers for a mandatory training programme before the rollout. In the next phase, we shall train our vaccinators,” said a KMC health department official.
Amitava Chakraborty, a KMC health official and a paediatrician, said, “This vaccine can save millions of infants who suffer from respiratory diseases like pneumonia. We need to spread the benefits of this immunization programme to every nook and corner of the state.”
A critically ill child could slip into secondary bacterial pneumonia, warned experts. A PCV vaccinated child would stand protected from such risks.
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