Chennai: The state government on Tuesday launched the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) under the Universal Immunization Program.
It is expected to help reduce death due to pneumonia and meningitis among children under five.
About 9.23 children lakh is expected to benefit from the program in the coming year.
MA Health Minister Subramanian will inaugurate a program at the Staterun Health Center in Poonamallee, said Public Health Director Dr.
TS Selvavinayagam.
Every child will take three doses of PCV – in the 6th week, 14th week and 9th month -For protection from pneumonia, one of the main causes of death in children under five years.
PCV will be provided free for children along with other vaccines under the UIP.
At present, a six-week old child receives oral polio vaccine (OPV), Rotavirus vaccine (oral drops), inactive polio vaccine (IPV) and Penta Vaccine (Intramuscular injection).
Now PCV will join the list, said a senior health department official.
Pneumonia is largely caused by Hemophilus influenzae and streptococcus pneumoniae.
The incidence of pneumonia because H H influenzae is around 85%.
Now, it has been reduced to 15% because the PTAP vaccine managed by the government under the PCV UIP will help reduce pneumonia due to streptococcus pneumoniae and finally reduce infant mortality, officially more.
DediItrician Salasubramanian, part of the previous PCV trial, said this program helps countries like the US in reducing pneumonia deaths not only in children but even among adults.
It’s been two decades since PCV arrived in India.
The first time PCV 7 and then PCV 13.
“In the public domain, it’s expensive with ₹ 1,500 3,200.
So it was a good thing that the government that managed it under the UIP,” said Dr.
Balasubramanian from Kanchi Kamakoti Childs Trust Tamil Nadu Trust launched the program PCV in 2019 but only for babies with low birth weight.
Then, it is expanded to children suffering from lung disease and those who undergo heart surgery.