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Correspondence

Indian Pediatr 2015;52: 348

Can Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram Give Impetus and Direction to Japanese Encephalitis Vaccination Program?

 

Tanigasalam Vasanthan and *C Venkatesh

Department of Pediatrics, JIPMER, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, India.
Email: * [email protected]

    


Japanese encephalitis (JE) is endemic in almost all States of India except Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarankhand [1]. The States with highest number of encephalitis cases include Assam, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Uttarpradesh and West Bengal [2]. Every year JE accounts for 10000 to 15000 deaths, and neurological sequelae in an equal proportion [2]. As there is no known specific treatment, prevention is the key to overcome mortality and severe neurological disability that is associated with this infection.

A vaccination program using cell culture derived live attenuated strain (SA 14-14-2) is in place in selected districts of India as a pilot project to prevent this disease. The Indian Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Immunization recommends one dose of vaccine to be administered to all infants in endemic areas along with measles vaccine with catch-up vaccination administered ahead of anticipated outbreaks in campaign mode [3]. It also recommends the vaccine for travellers to India who intend to stay for longer than four weeks in the endemic districts. The recent launch of the indigenously developed JE vaccine, using an Indian strain of the virus, as a trilateral venture between National Institute of Virology, Indian Council of Medical Research and Bharat Biotech, is a shot in the arm for control and prevention of JE in India. However, JE vaccination program should be further strengthened to provide nationwide coverage to prevent neurological disability. Nationwide JE vaccination can be implemented through Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) [4], a flagship program of the Union Health Ministry, to combat disability, which is one of the four health conditions targeted under the RBSK scheme.

References

1. Kakoti G, Dutta P, Ram Das B, Borah J, Mahanta J. Clinical profile and outcome of Japanese encephalitis in children admitted with acute encephalitis syndrome. Biomed Res Int. 2013;2013:152656.

2. Potula R, Badrinath S. Japanese encephalitis in and around Pondicherry, South India: A clinical appraisal and prognostic indicators of the outcome. J Trop Pediatr. 2003;49:48-53.

3. Vashishtha VM, Choudhury P, Kalra A, Bose A, Thacker N, Yewale VN, et al. Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) Recommended Immunization Schedule for Children Aged 0 through 18 years – India, 2014 and Updates on Immunization. Indian Pediatr. 2014;51:785-800.

4. Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram. Available from: http://nrhm.gov.in/nrhm-components/rmnch-a/child-health-immunization/rashtriya-bal-swasthya-karyakram-rbsk/background.html. Accessed January 14, 2015.

 

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