National Immunization Schedule And Its Coverage

NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULE AND ITS COVERAGE

IMMUNIZATION A mass means of controlling the spread of infectious diseases. Can be achieved using vaccines, immunoglobulins and antisera. Types: Active. Passive. Combined(DPT).

Given as a routine during infancy and childhood, with periodic boosters. Immunizations against certain diseases restricted to definite geographic areas where the disease is endemic.

An immunization schedule must be: Epidemiologically relevant. Immunologically effective. Operationally feasible. Socially acceptable.

Universal Immunization Programme The WHO launched a global immunization programme in 1974, known as Expanded Programme on Immunization(EPI), to protect against the six vaccine-preventable diseases,Diphtheria, Whooping cough, Tetanus, Polio, Tuberculosis and Measles. o EPI launched in India in January 1978. o

o o

The programme now called Universal Child Immunization, 1990, by UNICEF. The Indian version, the Universal Immunization Programme launched in 1985.

WHO EPI Schedule AGE

VACCINE

Birth

BCG , Oral polio.

6 weeks

DPT, Oral polio.

10 weeks

DPT, Oral polio.

14 weeks

DPT, Oral polio.

9 months

Measles.

Status of World Vaccine availability and demand- 1997 to 2003 DTP 600 500 400 Demand Available

300 200 100 0 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

BCG 400 350 300 250

Demand Available

200 150 100 50 0 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Measles 400 350 300 250

Demand Available

200 150 100 50 0 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

TT 600 500 400 Demand Available

300 200 100 0 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Map of Polio endemic countries in 1988

And in 2004

When EPI was launched in 1974, less than 5% of the world's children were immunized during their 1st year of life against six killer diseases. Today, nearly 75% of children receive these life-saving vaccinations and increasing numbers are also protected by new and under-used vaccines, like Hepatitis B.

However, a quarter of the world’s children – about 34 million infants – are not immunized against these killer diseases. While globally rates have risen, immunization levels have actually decreased in some countries like subSaharan Africa to just above 50% in 2000, and in 12 of the poorest countries rates are below 35%.

National Immunization Schedule a) 1) 2)

3) 4) 5)

For infants: At birth- BCG and OPV, 0 dose. At 6 weeks- BCG. - DPT-1 and OPV-1. At 10 weeks- DPT-2 and OPV-2. At 14 weeks- DPT-3 and OPV-3. At 9 months- Measles.

b) c) d) e) 1) 2)

At 16- 24 months- DPT and OPV. AT 5-6 years- DT. At 10 and at 16 years- TT. For pregnant women: Early in pregnancy- TT-1 or Booster. 1 month after TT-1- TT-2.

Coverage in India Uttar Pradesh is the country’s most populous state, with 180 million inhabitants. Between May and November 2004 vaccination rates increased from 45% to 78%. More than 34 million children are vaccinated.

But 1 million children are still being missed, most of them under the age of 2. The challenge of reaching these children is compounded by apathy and distrust towards the public sector, engendered by poor basic health and education services.

Basic Indicators

No. of children

Under-5 mortality rate, 1960 Under-5 mortality rate, 2003 Infant mortality rate, 1960 Infant mortality rate, 2003

242 87 146 63

Conclusion Although significant progress has been made – over 20 million lives have been saved by immunizations in the last 2 decades, we have not achieved the goal of reaching 80% [coverage] of the world's children. And tremendous inequities remain in terms of access to vaccines both between and within countries.