Vaccination In India

Wealth-based inequalities in Health care provision and utilization are endemic to the developing World; India is no exception. A good indicator of accessibility and outreach in the health care sector is the state of childhood immunization. Immunization is a simple preventive service; Immunisation is a highly cost effective way of improving survival in children in developing countries.Every year throughout the world, however, an estimated 27 million children and 40 million pregnant women do not receive the basic package of immunisations (as defined by WHO and UNICEF), and two to three million people die from diseases that can be prevented with vaccines. In India, immunisation services are offered free in public health facilities, but, despite rapid increases, the immunisation rate remains low in some areas

An article published in Social Science and Medicine (Pande & Yazbeck, 2002, 2003) described the state of immunization in India “beyond national averages”. That study, subsequently referenced as P&Y, used data from the Indian National Family and Health Survey (NFHS) conducted in 1992-93.

The situation described in P&Y was mostly dismal with 70 percent of children aged 12-60 months in rural areas still not fully immunized, and close to 40 percent with no immunization at all. Even in urban areas, only about half of the children were fully immunized and close to 20 percent had not received any immunization.

Immunization is a way of protecting the human body against infectious diseases through vaccination. Immunisation prepares our bodies to fight against diseases in case we come into contact with them in the future. Babies are born with some natural immunity which they get from their mother and through breast-feeding. This gradually wears off as the baby’s own immune system starts to develop. Having your child immunized gives extra protection against illnesses which can kill.

Vaccines like all other medicines under go extensive and rigorous tests regarding their safety. Only after the have been found to be safe that they are introduced for general vaccination programs. Each vaccine is continually checked even after it has been introduced and action is taken if it is needed. If a vaccine is not safe it is not used.

Thus it can be concluded that the children must get Vaccination irrespective of wealth and standards of their living.

Priyadarsh, Joint secretary NMWS.