Pneumococcal diseases: call to include vaccines in NIP
Special Correspondent
HYDERABAD: Medical practitioners under the banner of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics expressed concern that vaccines for pneumococcal diseases that were responsible for 40 per cent of the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in the country that was 72 per 1,000 births, were yet to be included in the National Immunisation Programme (NIP).
Addressing presspersons on the sidelines of a continuing medical education programme organised by the multinational Pfizer here on Saturday, former president of the academy Nitin Shah said Prevenar 13, the latest vaccine to treat pneumococcal diseases which was expensive as of now - Rs. 3,500 per dose -- could be made available for children at prices below Rs. 100 if only it was brought under the National Immunisation Schedule and with assistance from the Global Alliance for Vaccination and Immunisation (GAVI), a group of voluntary agencies primarily comprising the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
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Special Correspondent
HYDERABAD: Medical practitioners under the banner of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics expressed concern that vaccines for pneumococcal diseases that were responsible for 40 per cent of the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in the country that was 72 per 1,000 births, were yet to be included in the National Immunisation Programme (NIP).
Addressing presspersons on the sidelines of a continuing medical education programme organised by the multinational Pfizer here on Saturday, former president of the academy Nitin Shah said Prevenar 13, the latest vaccine to treat pneumococcal diseases which was expensive as of now - Rs. 3,500 per dose -- could be made available for children at prices below Rs. 100 if only it was brought under the National Immunisation Schedule and with assistance from the Global Alliance for Vaccination and Immunisation (GAVI), a group of voluntary agencies primarily comprising the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
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