Immunisation plan set to be expanded

Immunisation plan set to be expanded

News:

India plans to integrate the learnings from Intensified Mission Indradhanush with its universal immunization programme.

Facts:

About Mission Indradhanush

• Launched in 2014, aims to increase full immunization coverage to cover children up to 2 years and pregnant women by December 2018.
• 7 preventable diseases: diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, measles and hepatitis B. In addition to these, vaccines for Japanese encephalitis and Haemophilus influenza type B are also being provided in selected states.
• In 2016, four new additions have been made namely Rubella, Japanese Encephalitis, Injectable Polio Vaccine Bivalent and Rotavirus
• No separate funds are allocated for Mission Indradhanush but the funds allocated for Routine Immunization under Programme Implementation Plan (PIP) are being utilized by the states to carry out activities
• Mission does not target to reduce postnatal death rate but targets to reduce diseases and death due to vaccine preventable diseases.
• Mission Indradhanush has been implemented in low coverage pockets and has been expanded during (i) Intensified Mission Indradhanush (ii) Gram Swaraj Abhiyan and (iii) Expanded Gram Swaraj Abhiyaan

About Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI)

• Launched in October 2017, to reach each and every child under two years of age and all those pregnant women who have been left uncovered under the routine immunization programme.
• The special drive will focus in selected districts and cities to ensure full immunization to more than 90% by December 2018.
• Special attention will be given to unserved/low coverage pockets in sub-centre and urban slums with migratory population. The focus is also on the urban settlements and cities identified under National Urban Health Mission (NUHM).
• Vaccine supplies were tracked using the Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network and cold chain tracking programme, and distributed using the alternate vaccine delivery mechanism

The Universal Immunization Programme

• Launched by the Government of India in 1985.
• Provides life-saving vaccines to all children free of cost to protect them against  12 disease which are Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Hepatitis B, Pneumonia and Meningitis due to Haemophilus Influenzae type b (Hib), Measles, Rubella, Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Rotavirus diarrhoea. (Rubella, JE and Rotavirus vaccine in select states and districts).
• Vaccines against rotavirus, rubella and polio (injectable) will help the country meet its Millennium Development Goals 4 targets