http://www.thenewsreports.com/health-experts-loggerheads-government-rotavirus-vaccine/7648/nandhakumar
The Narendra Modi Government’s in-principle decision to introduce Rotavirus vaccine in the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) is being much debated with one group of public health researchers supporting and another opposing it.
Those against the move are questioning the vaccine’s efficacy and safety. Among those who are opposing the move is Jacob Puliyel, head of paediatrics at the St Stephens Hospital in Delhi.
Opposing the move, he said, “The vaccines in the USA, tested on more than 10,000 children, were found to cause excess cases of intussusceptions – a complication wherein parts of the intestine are devoid of blood supply. The Indian vaccine was tested on 4,500 children for two years and data for the second year has not yet been made public.”
Rotavirus is notoriously the most common reason for diarrhoeal death in children and takes an annual toll of 80,000. In addition, 8, 00,000 children are hospitalised for treatment every year.
Acting under pressure from the PMO (Prime Minister’s Office), the vaccine is planned for introduction in UIP beginning this year in select district. Initially, it is planned to procure 10 million doses, sources say. Earlier the National Technical Advisory group on immunisation has approved the inclusion of the vaccine in the programme.
According to a study in the journal Vaccine, introducing a third dose of the DPT along with the vaccine can prevent approximately 44,500 under-five deaths in the country each year in addition to saving Rs 14 crores for each 10 lakh of vaccinations.
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