Nadda said the vaccine will be introduced initially in Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Odisha and expanded to the entire country in a phased manner.
The Centre today launched the rotavirus vaccine as part of its Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) to prevent diarrhoeal death among children due to the virus which claims lives of nearly one lakh children every year.
Terming it as "historic" moment and "exemplary" step in India's immunisation programme, Union Health Minister J P Nadda said strengthening routine immunisation is an essential investment in India's children and will ensure a healthy future of the country.
Four new vaccines--Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV), Measles Rubella (MR) vaccine, Rotavirus vaccine and Adult Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccine are being introduced as part of UIP, which will provide immunisation against 12 life threatening diseases to 27 million children annually, the largest birth cohort in the world.
"We have achieved a new milestone towards expanding the coverage of full immunisation in the country aimed at reducing child mortality. Government is committed to reducing morbidity and mortality in children. Strengthening routine immunisation is an essential investment in India's children and will ensure a healthy future of the country," Nadda said at the launch at Bhubaneswar on Saturday.
Noting that the introduction of rotavirus vaccine will enable the government to directly address the problem of diarrhoeal deaths, Nadda said the vaccine will be introduced initially in Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Odisha and expanded to the entire country in a phased manner.
"Adding this life-saving vaccine to our immunisation programme will not only improve the health of our children but also reduce hospitalisation and other conditions associated with diarrhoea due to rotavirus such as malnutrition, delayed physical and mental development among children. Reduced hospitalisation reduces the economic burden on the family and the health cost burden on the country," Nadda said adding that the vaccine has been developed under a public-private partnership by the ministries of Health and Science and is a "landmark" achievement under 'Make in India'.
The Health Ministry said rotavirus is one of the leading causes of severe diarrhoea and death among children less than five years of age and every year nearly 80,000-1 lakh children die in India due to it.
The Ministry said around nine lakh children are admitted to hospital due to episodes of severe diarrhoea with 32.7 lakh cases of OPD and introduction of the vaccine will enable the government to directly address the problem of diarrhoeal deaths.
Nadda said launched in 1985, India's UIP is one of the largest immunisation programmes in the world and a major public health intervention in the country and the government aims to give maximum protection to the children against Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPDs).
Referring to 'Mission Indradhanush', he said, it was launched in December 2014 to fully immunise more than 89 lakh children who are either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated.
"In two phases of Mission Indradhanush spread over April- July 2015 and October 2015 to January 2016, a total of 1.42 crore children and 36.7 lakh women have been immunised in 20 lakh immunisation sessions. The gains made in Mission Indradhanush have led to health systems strengthening, which provides us a good opportunity for the introduction of a new vaccine and ensuring the reach of immunisation programme to each and every child," he said.
Terming it as an important initiative, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said this will help alleviate the health problems caused by rotavirus in Odisha in monsoon months. Union Health secretary B P Sharma said the vaccine was cost effective method to reduce out of pocket expenditure in addition to saving hundreds of lives.
"This is a very cost effective measure. Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) is also on the anvil. We also have to improve health facilities in the states to prevent neonatal deaths by 2030 to achieve Sustainable Development Goals," he said.
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