New Delhi: The center on Friday launched a national expansion of the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Program (PCV), which is expected to reduce child mortality by around 60%.
Pneumonia and diarrhea are the two main causes of death among children.
“Pneumonia caused by Pneumococcus is the most common cause of severe pneumonia in children.
In India around 16% percent of deaths in children occur because of pneumonia.
National PCV launch will reduce child mortality around 60%” said Mansukh Health Minister Mandaviya .
In 2016-18, India launched a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in five states – Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan – who contributed almost half of Indian’s annual birth cohort.
Expansion of programs outside the five pilot countries will save more than 50,000 children’s lives every year.
This program will also use Made-in-India vaccines.
At present, the vaccine used in five trial countries is given by GAVI, the company’s international consortium, donors and countries whose purpose is to ensure a fair vaccine distribution.
Estimates show that for the launch of the Pedgers, India will require a total of 750 lakh doses of vaccines.
Mandaviya, who also released a conscious package on the PCV which will be shared with the state and the United States, said it was for the first time a vaccine was available for universal use.
Mandaviya also highlights the importance of healthy children in any country’s growth, productivity and development.
“Children are the future of our country and it is our responsibility to give them a healthy life,” he said.