Health Department launches campaign to combat vaccine hesitancy in Malerkotla

Covering 100 per of students for administering DPT 5, TD 10, and TD 16 vaccines seems to be a far-fetched dream for the authorities concerned as healthcare workers battle the hesitancy of parents from rural and suburban localities to get their children vaccinated.

However, to combat the situation, the Health Department has claimed to have launched a coordinated movement to sensitise identified children and their parents at various educational levels regarding the importance of getting vaccinated.

A perusal of records revealed that the percentage of children vaccinated for diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus in the area was very low as compared to the state percentage.

Following this, a communication was issued by the Civil Surgeon at Malerkotla to Senior Medical Officers (SMOs) at Ahmedgarh, Amargarh, and Fatehgarh Panj Garayian, directing them to organise special vaccination camps at primary and secondary schools in the district to spread awareness. The SMOs were also advised to ask lady health visitors (LHVs) to prepare a roster for organising camps at various schools.

The SMOs in turn advised heads of various schools, including MGMN Senior Secondary School, Jain School, Khalsa School for Women, and Government High School, Ahmedgarh, to provide lists of students of 5, 10, and 16 years of age so that the required vaccine was requisitioned from the higher authorities.

Ahmedgarh Civil Hospital SMO Dr Jyoti Kapoor acknowledged the trend and regretted that most residents of rural and semi-urban localities had failed to comprehend the significance of generating immunity among children against diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus.

Jyoti said senior personnel, including her, had been visiting schools to sensitise students and teachers on the subject so that the maximum number of people could get their children immunised against these diseases.

“Having failed to achieve the desired results of 100 per cent vaccination of designated children, we have launched a campaign to sensitise target children about the issue related to their health and career,” said Jyoti, appreciating that school heads had assured her of organising parent-teacher meetings to update residents about the necessity of vaccination.