Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine for infants in AP

An update on Conjugate Pneumococcal vaccine for infants in AP

 Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine for infants in AP

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• The story: The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh launched a Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) immunisation drive for infants. In December 2020, India’s first fully indigenously developed pneumococcal conjugate vaccine “Pneumosil” was launched. Conjugate vaccines are made using a combination of two different components.
• What it does: It prevents the pneumococcal disease, and can protect both children and adults. The vaccine is a mix of several bacteria of the pneumococci family, which are known to cause pneumonia—hence ‘conjugate’ is included in the name of the vaccine.
• What is the Pneumococcal disease: It is the name used for any infection caused by bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae or pneumococcus. Most people carry pneumococcus in their nose and throat, where the bacteria do not cause any symptoms. Sometimes the bacteria grow and spread to other parts of the body and that’s when people become sick.

1. These bacteria can cause many types of illnesses, including pneumonia, which is an infection of the lungs. Pneumococcal bacteria are one of the most common causes of pneumonia. Besides pneumonia, pneumococcal bacteria can also cause ear infections, sinus infections, Meningitis (infection of the tissue covering the brain and spinal cord), Bacteremia (infection of the blood) etc.
2. Doctors consider some of these infections “invasive”. Invasive disease means that germs invade parts of the body that are normally free from germ.

• Who is at risk: Anyone can get pneumococcal disease, but children under 2 years of age, people with certain medical conditions, adults 65 years or older, and cigarette smokers are at the highest risk. Pneumonia had been a major cause of infant and child mortality. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), pneumonia accounts for 15% of all deaths of children under 5 years. It was estimated that the disease affected around 16 lakh children and caused the death of nearly 68,700 children across the country in the year 2015.
• UIP: The government of India is ensuring equitable access to those to the underprivileged and underserved by making it available under the Universal Immunization Program (UIP). The Sustainable Development Goal 3 calls for an end to preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age. It also specifies that all countries should aim to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 deaths per 1,000 live births and under-five mortality to at least as low as 25 deaths per 1,000 live births by 2030. (Neonatal mortality is defined as death within the first 28 days of life)

1. The Universal Immunization Programme was launched in 1985 to prevent mortality and morbidity in children and pregnant women against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases.
2. Under UIP, free of cost vaccination is provided against twelve vaccine-preventable diseases i.e. Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Hepatitis B, Pneumonia and Meningitis due to Haemophilus Influenzae type b (Hib), Measles, Rubella, Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Rotavirus diarrhoea.
3. The programme is one of the largest health programmes in the world. Despite being operational for many years, UIP has been able to fully immunize only 65% of children under 1 year of age.

• EXAM QUESTIONS: (1) Explain the dynamics involved in large-scale vaccination programmes in India, in terms of centre-state coordination. (2) What were the challenges in rolling out the Covid vaccines across India, and how were they tackled? Explain. (3) The role of community health centres in containing outbreaks of certain diseases is crucial. How? Explain.

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