Over 10 lakh children yet to be vaccinated for JE

Lucknow, September 3 Despite the recent Central supply of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccine, over 10 lakh children in 18 high-risk districts are waiting to receive the vaccine. “We have asked the Central government a number of times to send us the vaccine for around 10 lakh children for the routine immunisation,” said Neeta Chandhary, Principal Secretary, Medical and Health.

The children who have attained the age for vaccine eligibility were supposed to be vaccinated for the disease under the routine immunisation programme.

This programme was scheduled for the month of July, before the start of the monsoon season, which also marks the rise in the cases of encephalitis. “It is true that these children should have been vaccinated before the start of the monsoon but we are helpless due to shortage of vaccine,” added Chandhary.

As the JE vaccine is given once in a lifetime, those children who completed a year this year were not included in the original drive which took place last year. The districts in question had conducted the drive last year too.

“We have, however, been assured that we will soon receive the supply,” said Chandhary. In the state, this year alone there have been 27 JE cases and seven deaths.