JE Vaccination Campaign: 10% Target Achieved In A Month, Over 1.17 Lakh Kids Vaccinated

Indore (Madhya Pradesh): District health officials could reach over 1.17 lakh kids of aged between one year and 15 years and vaccinated them against Japanese Encephalitis in a month. The vaccination drive was started in four districts of the state simultaneously in Indore, Bhopal, Sagar and Narmadapuram on February 27. 

According to district immunisation officer Dr Tarun Gupta, they have a target of 12.24 lakh kids of the said age group in Indore.“We have vaccinated over 1.17 lakh kids in a week at anganwadis, health centres, and by conducting camps. We will intensify the activities soon by collaborating with schools,” Dr Gupta said. The disease is mosquito-borne and is transmitted from birds and pigs through mosquitoes. This is not a human-to-human infection. The safest way to avoid this viral disease is vaccination.

Initially, vaccination will be done at the community level at all the vaccination centres and then the vaccine will be added to the regular vaccination schedule. Earlier, children were protected from 11 diseases through vaccination, which will now increase to 12 diseases.

Good response even after summer holidays

Dr Gupta claimed that they are getting good response to the campaign even after the summer holidays have started as many parents are reaching the health centres to get their wards inoculated. “Over 3,000-5,000 kids are being vaccinated at the health centres on every Tuesday and Friday. We are also conducting campaigns in societies and groups to motivate people to get the dose,” he said. Dr Gupta also added that they are expecting a better response to the campaign after the schools reopen in April and June. “We will run special campaigns at the schools and are expecting to achieve the target in a couple of months after the new session starts,” he added.