Pandemic casts shadow on immunisation drive in Pb

Blurb: Hundreds of kids missed regular doses of vaccines

Box: Experts warn against jumping schedule

Children up to 6 years of age could not receive scheduled doses of vaccines on time

Their parents kept postponing vaccination for the fear of contracting virus

Experts say the efficiency of vaccines gets affected if not given on time

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, December 30

The Covid-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the child immunisation programme in the state. Children up to 6 years of age could not receive scheduled doses of vaccines, particularly during the lockdown period.

One-year-old Navneet Kaur of Harbans Colony in Samana is among hundreds others who could not be immunised against various diseases in a timely manner. Her parents kept postponing the vaccination as they feared their family could contract Covid if they visited hospital.

Her mother Sharanjeet Kaur said: “After a delay of over six months, we finally gathered courage to take Navneet to a health centre today and got her two doses of Pentavalent.”

Pentavalent protects children against five major diseases — diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (severe cough), hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenza.

Similarly, parents of seven-month-old Hasreet of Noorpura village in Samana got her vaccinated after a gap of five months.

Experts say since vaccines are age and duration appropriate, their efficiency gets affected if not given on time.

Dr Harshinder Kaur, paediatrician, Government Rajindra Hospital, admitted that the pandemic had severely affected the immunisation drive.

Pleading anonymity, an immunisation officer of the Health Department said: “ASHA workers and ANMs were busy in contact tracing of Covid patients. Consequently, the immunisation programme was hit.” As per record, there had been a 50 per cent decline in the follow-up vaccine doses.

Dr Balwinder Kaur, State Immunisation Officer, claimed they had been successful in meeting the target after the restrictions were eased.