Jab for 4 more diseases soon: Nadda

Tribune News service

Shimla, June 4

The Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry has decided to add four more names to the list of diseases for which vaccination will be made available under the Mission Indradhanush.

The move comes as part of the "Swasth Bharat" initiative that envisages affordable health services to all, besides ensuring immunisation of all children against dreaded diseases so as to bring down the infant mortality rate to a single digit.

The Mission Indradhanush, which envisaged immunisation against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, measles and hepatitis-B, has made good progress so far. Out of the 90 lakh unimmunised children (70 lakh of them partially immunised), 40 lakh were covered in the first phase of the mission launched on April 7 this year. There had been a 5 per cent increase during each phase. The goal of immunising all children would also be achieved, said Union Health Minister JP Nadda today.