Navi Mumbai: Children aged 1 to 15 years within the Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) limits will receive the Japanese Encephalitis vaccine free of cost. The vaccine is in adherence to the government guidelines.
Accordingly from March 1 onwards the vaccination is made available in anganwadis, government, semi- government and private schools as well as in out of school areas of panvel. Administration earlier on February 27 had created a city task force to decide upon the means of providing the vaccination. A meeting was convened wherein officials from the medical field discussed the ways the vaccine is to be made available for residents.
Japanese Encephalitis is a type of viral brain fever. Cases of this disease have been reported in Raigad district. It is caused by a virus transmitted through mosquito bites and can be life-threatening for young children. The disease has a mortality rate of 30%, while 40% of affected patients may suffer from permanent disabilities.
“As no definite or curative treatment for this disease exists to date, the government has made this vaccine available free of cost as a preventive measure,” said an official.
The medical department of PMC has appealed to residents to provide the vaccine to their children. “The vaccine is extremely safe, parents are urged to ensure their children receive the vaccination at the designated locations planned by Panvel Municipal Corporation. This will help protect them from this severe brain fever and Japanese Encephalitis,” adds the official.
