Bharat Chauhan New Delhi ,
UNICEF along with it’s partners has been supporting the Routine Immunization programme.
Though, immunization is one of the most cost- effective public health interventions, routine immunization (RI) drives, frequently face vaccine hesitancy and vaccine refusal in India due to religious, socio-cultural beliefs, myths, superstitions and a lack of trust.
It is an accepted fact, immunization for infants, children and even pregnant mothers is of paramount importance to avert vaccine-preventable deaths. Though globally, there has been a marked decline in child deaths since 1990, over 1.4 million children, in the below 5 age -group still die in India , each year, mostly from preventable diseases such as measles, meningitis, caused by Haemophilus Influenza type B (hIb), diptheria, tetanus, pertussis ( whooping cough) , yellow fever, polio and hepatitis B.
UNICEF has planned many special activities for the upcoming World Immunization Week, (24th-30TH April) being celebrated globally. The theme for this immunization week is “Protected Together, #VaccinesWork”, positioning vaccines as a shield that protects children, families and communities.
