| Demand of the question Introduction. Contextual introduction. Body. Importance if vaccination. What should be done? Conclusion. Way forward. |
Vaccination is the administration of a vaccine (a microorganism or virus in a weakened or killed state, or proteins or toxins from the organism) to help the immune system develop protection from a disease. Recent data shows that twenty million children worldwide missed out on life-saving vaccines against diseases such as measles, diphtheria and tetanus in 2018.
Why vaccinating child is important?
- Saves life: Vaccination protect child against life threatening diseases. Many diseases kill thousands of children annually. Vaccination prevent such diseases. Some diseases have been eliminated completely due to safe and effective vaccination. E.g Polio.
- Save money: Some diseases can result in prolonged disabilities which can be prevented through vaccination. It put financial burden in terms of cost of medical bills. Vaccination reduce such costs by limiting diseases.
- Protects future generations: Vaccination protects future generation by preventing disease spreading from one generation to other. For example, smallpox has been eradicated worldwide. E.g. by vaccinating against rubella (German measles), the risk that pregnant women will pass this virus on to their foetus or newborn has been dramatically decreased.
- Promote health: Unlike many other health interventions, they help people stay healthy, ensuring human development. It improve our body’s fighting mechanism and enhance our immune system.
- Prevent epidemic: They protect individuals, communities, and entire populations. Vaccination stops disease in individual and prevent its further spread.
What is needed?
- Political and Bureaucratic Support: Vaccination programs need political and bureaucratic support at all levels. There is need to increase focus on routine immunisation.
- Vaccine Stock management system: Many health facilities lack proper stock of vaccines. Ensuring an uninterrupted supply of all vaccines to state level through a vaccine stock management system is must.
- Proper Information, education and communication:Lack of awareness is the main barrier for vaccination. Focus should be on increasing demand for vaccination by bringing immunisation closer to the communities.
- Methods to Improve Routine Immunisation: The number of immunisation ‘delivery points’ especially in rural and remote area should be increased. ‘Immunisation booths’ should be constructed at every locality in urban areas particularly in slums, and local municipality board member should be made accountable for their performances.
- Proper Monitoring of the Program: The administrative and governance-related loopholes need to be addressed. Some states have been performing very well. Best practices should be emulated in bad performing states.
- Accountability needs to be set and monitored: Accountability is needed from health worker level till the highest level. Each level of the healthcare facility should be accountable to the immediate superior rung in the hierarchy. Immunisation sessions should be supervised by a medical officer as done in Tamil Nadu, the only state of the country having this arrangement.
- Regulatory Authority: There is an urgent need of strengthening the regulatory framework. A national regulatory authority should be created. Currently, the Indian NRA, i.e. the Drug Controller General of India is overburdened with performing many diverse tasks including marketing authorization and licensing activities related to drugs, cosmetics, vaccines, etc. We need a vaccine specific NRA to oversee different issues related to vaccines such as licensing, post-marketing surveillance etc. Also there should be a single window system to avoid regulatory delays.
- Support to Indigenous Vaccine Industry: Though, the current national vaccine policy seems supportive of Indian vaccine industry, there is still need to further improve Indian vaccine sector to meet the indigenous demand of vaccines.
- Research and Development (R&D): Investment in research and development is must to develop new vaccines and improved vaccines.
Immunisation has delivered excellent results in reducing mortality from childhood infections in the last 50 years. Although the success has not been as spectacular. More is needed to achieve a healthy nation.
