Mysuru: The health department is ready to launch drive vaccination of pneumococcal conjugates for children from the first week of September.
It has completed training for medical officers and paramedic staff in all districts.
In Mysuru, officials said this drive would likely start from the second week of September after a travel awareness.
In Shivamogga, Deputy Commissioner KB Sivakumar said the drive would start from the first week of September.
He held a review meeting with officials on the implementation of new vaccines as part of a universal immunization program.
According to the authorities, this vaccine will be given in the week of birth, 14th week, and nine months.
Officials said the vaccine would provide protection against pneumonia and other diseases.
In Shivamogga, the consultant Dr.
Satanhchandra said, “In our country every year 1.2 million children die before reaching the age of five years.
Among them, the death of 16% was caused by pneumonia.
This vaccine is effective against this.” Health Officer Shivamogga District DR Rajesh Suragihalli said the vaccine was expensive in private hospitals and then it would be provided free of charge at government facilities for children.
“The vaccine dose costs around Rs 1,500 in a private hospital.
We started with the first dose of September the first week,” he said.
He added that medical staff and paramedics were trained about vaccination drives.