MUSHALPUR, Feb 24 � A media sensitisation workshop on Pentavalent vaccine introduction in Baksa district was held at the Baksa District Centre here under the auspices of the Health and Family Welfare Department of Baksa and the Baksa District Health Society, on February 21.
Dr LK Sarma , SDM & HO, Barama Block PHC and Dr Bhubaneswar Swargiary, SDM & HO, Mushalpur PHC conducted the programme as resource persons. The SDM&HO, Barama PHC explained that Pentavalent is one vaccine against five diseases � diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, hepatitis B and haemophylus influenza B (Hib) which causes meningitis and pneumonia among children leading to death of more than 72,000 children in India under age five every year. Hib vaccine is highly safe and effective and three doses of immunisation reduces the risk of the Hib disease by more than 90 per cent.
It was explained that the freeze-sensitive Hib vaccine does not protect against diseases caused by other organisms and even after full Hib immunisation, a child may still get other types of pneumonia, meningitis or viral infections, such as flu. It includes three injections to infants at six, ten and 14 weeks respectively, which have to be completed within a year and has no booster dose.
The mediapersons were urged to convey a clear message to the masses regarding the new vaccine, that there are no contraindication other than previous serious reaction to vaccine and can be given with other vaccines. It is noteworthy that even after Pentavalent vaccine, DPT and Hepatitis B will continue to be in the immunisation schedule.
In Baksa district, the routine immunisation will be launched in six block PHCs from February 25, for which the service providers have already been trained. About 20,000 infants will be currently covered in the district under the immunisation programme.
