|
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.
|
|
|
|