Papum Pare district of Arunachal Pradesh records low immunization percentage

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ITANAGAR: Papum Pare district has recorded immunization coverage of 75.5 per cent, far below the central government's target, a health department official said here on Friday. The coverage percentage is far below the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry's target of 90 per cent, said district reproductive and child health officer Dr. Neyang Nitik. The immunization percentage has been low despite conducting multiple rounds of activities like Mission Indradhanush, Azaadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, and special routine immunization campaigns from time to time, Dr. Nitik said during a meeting of the district health society here. Therefore, the district launched the special vaccination campaign on March 6 for 4 months to vaccinate all left-out and drop-out children in the age groups 0-2 years, 9 months-5 years' children who missed MR1 (measles, rubella), MR 2, and children 10 years and above who have missed the Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (TD) vaccine, she said.

Dr. Nitik requested all medical officers in charge to improve the vaccination rates in their jurisdictions and to conduct the special vaccination campaign on working and non-routine immunization days. Yupia's additional deputy commissioner (ADC), Tabang Bodung, who chaired the meeting, urged all educational institution heads to gear up for the special vaccination campaign, which mainly targets adolescents for the TD vaccine. He called for intensifying awareness regarding TD and other vaccines in schools. Terming the role of the education department as vital for the success of the SVC, he said that "the DDSEs will be directed to coordinate with the medical officer in charge of all the health and wellness centres across the district to encourage the children to get vaccinated." He requested that the doctors and other health functionaries submit the reports and the microplans sought by the government on time.

Papum Pare district medical officer (DMO), Dr. Komling Perme, emphasized the need to prepare accurate vaccination due lists to avoid left-outs and drop-outs. "Although the time gap between the TD vaccine, which is administered at 10 years and 16 years, is quite large, efforts can be made to maintain the records and inform the beneficiaries on time," Dr. Perme suggested. In the meeting, the status of routine immunization (RI) and special vaccination campaigns (SVC) in all the 18 health facilities across Papum Pare was reviewed.

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