Nadda launches Rotavirus vaccine to reduce child mortality

26 March, Bhubaneswar

Union Health Minister J P Nadda Saturday said the country achieved a new milestone towards expanding the coverage of full immunisation, aimed at reducing child mortality.

Speaking at the national launch of Rotavirus vaccine as part of the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) of the country, here, Mr Nadda described the event as an historic moment and an exemplary step in India’s immunisation programme.

The government, he said, is committed to reducing morbidity and mortality in children, adding that Rotavirus is one of the leading causes of severe diarrhoea and death among children less than five years of age.

Every year, nearly 80,000 to one lakh children die in the country due to Rotavirus diarrhoea and about nine lakh children are admitted to hospital due to episodes of severe diarrhoea with 32.7 lakh cases of OPD, the Union Minister said, adding that the introduction of Rotavirus vaccine will “enable us to directly address the problem of diarrhoea deaths.”

The vaccine is being introduced initially in four states – Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Odisha and will be expanded to the entire country in a phased manner, he announced.

Mr Nadda said, “this life-saving vaccine to our immunisation programme will not only improve the health of our children, but also reduce hospitalisation and other conditions associated with diarrhoea due to Rotavirus such as malnutrition, delayed physical and mental development among children.”

Reduced hospitalisation reduces the economic burden on the family and the health cost burden on the country, the Union Minister pointed out.

The Rotavirus vaccine has been developed indigenously, under a public-private partnership by the Ministries of Science and Health & Family Welfare, which is a landmark achievement under ‘Make in India’ initiative, Mr Nadda stated.