First indigenous vaccine for infant pneumonia approved

News: The Drug Controller General of India(DCGI) has approved the first fully indigenously developed conjugate vaccine for pneumonia developed by the Serum Institute of India,Pune.

Facts:

• Pneumonia: It is an infection in one or both lungs.The infection causes inflammation in the air sacs in your lungs which are called alveoli.The alveoli fill with fluid or pus making it difficult to breathe.
• Causes: It is caused by a number of infectious agents, including viruses, bacteria and fungi.
• Symptoms: High fever and chills, cough with phlegm, physical weakness and a feeling of being unwell, shortness of breath and rapid breathing and a racing pulse.
• Transmission: 
  • The viruses and bacteria that are commonly found in a child’s nose or throat can infect the lungs if they are inhaled.
  • They may also spread via air-borne droplets from a cough or sneeze.
  • It may also spread through blood especially during and shortly after birth.
• Treatment: Pneumonia is both preventable and treatable.

Initiatives against Pneumonia:

• Integrated Global Action Plan for Pneumonia and Diarrhoea (GAPPD): It was launched by WHO and UNICEF in 2009.It aims to end preventable childhood deaths due to pneumonia and diarrhoea by 2025.
• Social Awareness and Action to Neutralise Pneumonia Successfully (SAANS) campaign: It was launched by the Union Health Ministry to mobilise people to protect children from pneumonia and train health personnel and other stakeholders to provide prioritised treatment to control the disease.