CHENNAI: High-ranking government officials, international agencies and experts sought to allay fears over the roll out of the pentavalent vaccine in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.The workshop for mediapersons held here on Thursday saw journalists from across the country discuss the matter with representatives from the Tamil Nadu government and UNICEF apart from a number of other national organisations dealing with paediatrics and child health.The workshop was held against the backdrop of fears over the pentavalent vaccine, which has received some bad press lately. Presenting certain facts and findings, the experts cleared the air of concerns over the safety and efficacy of the vaccine.It is a five-in-one shot that combines vaccines that are already being administered to infants across the countries. It will cover vaccination against Diptherria, Pertusis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenza type b (commonly referred to as Hib). The primary benefit of the pentavalent vaccine in the Indian context will be the inclusion of Hib vaccination to the basket of potentially deadly diseases already covered. Babies are presently administered DPT, Hepatitis B and polio vaccines in separate doses, and pentavalent vaccine brings them all together in one dose.
Comments
0 comment