World Immunization Week
World Immunization Week is observed every year during the last week of April (April 24-30) to raise awareness about the importance of immunization. This year’s theme is “VaccinesWork”.
Immunization is a process in which a person is given vaccine to make him/her immune or resistant to an infectious disease. Vaccine stimulates immune system to protect the person against the disease or infection. Immunization is one of the most cost effective public health investments. Almost one third of deaths among children under five are preventable by a vaccine shot.
According to World Health Organization (WHO), one out of five children worldwide is missing out on vital immunization. There are 25 diseases that can be prevented by vaccines including diphtheria, measles, pertussis, pneumonia, polio, rotavirus diarrhoea, rubella and tetanus.
In Indian context, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched Mission Indradhanush on 25th December 2014 with the aim of expanding immunization coverage to all children across India by year 2020. The Mission Indradhanush, depicting seven colours of the rainbow, targets to immunize all children against seven vaccine preventable diseases namely diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, childhood tuberculosis, polio, hepatitis b and measles. India has one of the largest Universal Immunization Programs (UIP) in the world. Under the UIP, all vaccines are given free of cost to the beneficiaries as per the National Immunization Schedule.
To Read more about Immunization Click here
Detailed report on Universal Immunization Program Click here
To read more about Mission Indradhanush Click here
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