23% infants not fully vaccinated, TMC to start 4-month-long drive

12th Oct 2017

THANE: More than 23 per cent of the over 27,000 new-born and infants from the deprived pockets in the city have not been completely vaccinated and could be susceptible to infectious diseases and at risk of untimely death, said officials in the civic health department.

"Of the total 27,614 kids in the 0-2 years bracket, we have records of 9,694 children who have either missed out on their dose or could be taking them soon," said Dr Ram Kendre, medical health officer of the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC).

The poor immunization of infants, specially from the High Risk Areas (HRA) has compelled the civic health machinery to adopt a targeted approach and intensify the vaccination drive in the lake city.

The TMC will be conducting a week-long special vaccination drive over the next four months.

"The government is focusing on cities wherein children up to the age of two have not taken adequate vaccinations as per the immunization schedule. The focus is to make these children immune to diseases like polio, hepatitis B, whooping cough, et al," added Dr Kendre.

In order to make sure that all the children take the adequate vaccinations a survey was done in the HRA to identify the kids.

"A week long drive will be conducted from October 9 to 14 where these children will be given the dose that they have missed at 27 health centers, five maternity homes and at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital. Also, pregnant women, who have not taken tetanus or boosters will be immunized. Not only this month, but this drive will be conducted for a week over the next four months," added Kendre.

The government is focusing on cities wherein children up to the age of two have not taken adequate vaccinations as per the immunization schedule. The focus is to make these children immune to diseases like polio, hepatitis B, whooping cough

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com