Thursday, August 27, 2009

Full vaccine course key to developing immunity

 Every year, a large number of children get vaccinated for diseases like pertussis, tuberculosis, hepatitis-B, measles under the national immunization programme. But very few go on to complete the full course losing track of booster doses that are administered at 10 and 16 years. The lack of awareness among parents are to blame for the low turnout rate. 

    Doctors say most children don't get mandatory booster dose for tetanus at the age of 10 and 16. ''If they are given the booster doses, the kids can develop immunity for life. It would also bring down indiscriminate use of tetanus. But we don't see many turning up for booster doses at 10 and 16 years of age,'' said Dr Bir Singh, professor of community medicine, AIIMS. 
    Similarly, the incidence of the contagious pertussis (whooping cough) is rising among kids in the 10-plus agegroup. The national immunization programme recommends booster doses for diphtheria and tetanus at the age of 5. ''These days, we see a lot of pertussis cases in children 
above 10 years. With time, the effect of the vaccine decreases. That is why booster doses of DPT (diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus) are required at the age of 10,'' said Dr Pankaj Garg, consultant, neo-natology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. 
    Doctors say the national immunization programme is religiously followed for children up to two years. ''Till 24 months, vaccines are given at an interval of 2 to 3 months. But when we ask parents to come after two or four years, their turnout is dismal,'' said Dr Sisir Paul, paediatrician, Max Healthcare. 

TIME FOR FOLLOW-UP 
BOOSTER 

A number of diseases are covered under the national immunization programme, but doctors say that follow-up rate of booster doses, especially given at 10 & 16 years of age, is very poor in India 
IMMUNIZATION ROUTINE 
Primary vaccination 
Bacillus Calmette-Guirin 
Vaccine against tuberculosis 
Administered at 
Birth 
Oral polio 
Vaccine against polio 
Administered at 
Birth, 6, 10, 14 weeks 

DPT 
Vaccine against diphtheria, pertussis & tetanus 
Administered at 
6, 10, 14 weeks 
Hepatitis B 
Against bloodborne disease 
Administered at 
Birth, 6, 10, 14 weeks 
Measles vaccine Administered at 
9-12 months 

Optional vaccines 
H influenza (type B) 
Against flu Administered at | 6, 10, 14 weeks Booster dose at | 18 mths 
Hepatitis A 
Against water-borne diseases Administered at | 12 mths Booster dose at | 18 mths 
Chicken pox Administered at | 1 yr Booster dose at | 10 yrs 
Pneumococcal vaccine 
Against pneumonia 
Administered at 
6, 14, 20 weeks 
Typhoid (VI) Administered at | 2 yrs Booster dose at 
Every 3 yrs* 
Meningococcal 
Against meningitis Administered at | 2 yrs Booster dose at 
Every 3 yrs* 
*(until 18 years of age) 
BOOSTER DOSES 
DPT & oral polio 
16-24 months 

DT 
5 yrs (doctors recommend DPT booster dose at 10 years of age) 

Tetanus Toxoid (TT) 
At 10 years & again at 16 years 

Vitamin A 
9, 18, 24, 30 & 36 months after birth of the infant



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