SILCHAR, Feb 19 � The life-saving pentavalent vaccination drive for infants was launched in Cachar district on Wednesday.
In a meeting presided over by the in-charge Joint Director of Health Services, Dr Sudip Jyoti Das at the SM Dev Civil Hospital conference hall, District Immunisation Officer Dr Ashim Kanti Das said that the single vaccine shot would provide protection to infants from five life-threatening ailments including Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus (DPT), Hepatitis B and Hib (Haemophilus Influenza Type B). He said that the vaccines would be available for infants aged one-and-ahalf months, two-and-a-half months and three-and-a-half months.
Local MLA Dilip Paul, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said that adequate efforts must be made to popularise the vaccine at the grassroots level. He urged the media to play a positive role in disseminating information about the newly-launched vaccine.
Dr Sudip Jyoti Das said that as the vaccine is expensive, care must be taken for its proper usage and any waste must be avoided. District Media Expert of the National Health Mission Suman Choudhury, who anchored the meeting, stressed the need of proper storage and maintenance of the vaccine. He said that Health officials have been trained, and that with the introduction of this vaccine, the number of separate shots has been lessened.
