 Thiruvananthapuram: As part of the Universal Immunisation Programme of the Indian government, Kerala on Dec 14 will introduce the pentavalent vaccine which provides protection to a child from five life-threatening diseases.
"In a year, 5.5 lakh kids in the state would have received a shot of this vaccine," Rajiv Sadanandan, principal secretary in the state's health department, told. The vaccine provides protection from diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B and haemophilus influenza type B (HiB).
The pentavalent vaccine will replace the current hepatitis B and DPT primary vaccines schedule in the immunisation programme.
"I am not worried of the price of this new vaccine in the open market because I am getting it free," said Sadanandan when asked if the price of the vaccines would be a burden on the state.
This new vaccine is being launched at the grassroots level in Kerala and Tamil Nadu in the first phase because of the hugely successful immunisation coverage these states have.
The health official pointed out that the vaccine has been used in the private sector for many years and it has been found to be the safest.
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