Children below 1 year should be vaccinated with PCV: Dr T Manihar

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jun 21: Dr T Manihar appealed to every parent of children under 1 years of age to get them vaccinated with Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) for protection from Pneumonia and other Pneumococcal diseases.
Dr T Manihar, Joint Director, Family Welfare Services, who is also State Immunisation Officer said this during a media sensitisation programme on PCV held today at Directorate of Family Welfare Services in BT Road.
As part of the Universal Immunisation Programme launched by the Government of India, vaccination for PCV was started in the state on June 7. PCV is one of the safest and most effective vaccines which can be administered to children along with other vaccines, he added.
PCV is very costly but the Government is providing it free of cost through state machineries, he added.
Dr T Manihar explained with a powerpoint presentation that Pneumonia, Meningitis, Bronchitis, Rhinitis, Sinusitis, Otitis Media etc. are collectively known as Pneumococcal diseases caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae, which has about 93 strain out of which around 20 are very dangerous. This bacteria usually affects children below 5 years of age but it is deadlier in children below 2 years as mortality rate is high amongst this age group, he added.
The infection usually happens to children who were not breast-fed adequately during the first six months of birth, malnourished, living in crowded and polluted rooms which are very poorly ventilated and immunocompromised children.
The symptoms of Pneumococcal diseases includes fever, headache, state of confusion, cough, bodyache, difficulty in breathing and febrile seizure (Yang Chingba), but as the infection generally happens in young children, there is difficulty in identifying the symptoms, Dr T Manihar told the media.
If a child is having frequent fever, there is sunken spot in chest and is crying uncontrollably, it could be a case of Pneumococcal or Pneumonia but accurate diagnosis can be achieved with X-ray imaging and laboratory tests.
146 countries have vaccinated with PCV since last year and vaccination was started for five states back in 2017 with two vaccines PCV-10 and PCV-13, while the vaccination was launched in Manipur on June 7 with PCV-10, he informed.
The first dose is to be given when the child is 1 and half months old, second dose at 3 and half months and a booster dose at 9 months and the dose is to be administered at the right thigh muscle, he added. Vaccination can be done at PHCs during routine immunisation on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Replying to a query, Dr T Manihar said the PCV vaccination is aimed at children below the age of one year, but as the programme was started a little late in Manipur, the second dose and booster dose will be given to children even if they are above one years.
The media sensitisation programme was also attended by representatives of WHO and UNDP along with officers of Family Welfare Services.