Immunisation only in PHCs, GHs in TN

Chennai, Apr 30 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu Government has decided to implement the immunisation programme only in Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Government Hospitals equipped with life saving facilities, following the death of four children after being administered measles vaccine in Thiruvallur district on April 23.

An official release here last night said the Government decided to administer vaccines to children for six deadly diseases only in PHCs and GHs to avert any untoward incidents.

The Government had already decided to take up vaccination only under the direct supervision of doctors, like in Kerala, as against the present practice of nurses doing the job by themselves. The vaccines had to be dissolved with different solvents and there was every possibility of human error creeping in. The new arrangement was aimed at avoiding these errors, the release said.

The vaccination programme, implemented since 1985 as per the advice of the World Health Organisation for polio, whooping cough, diphtheria, primary complex, tetanus and measles, had helped to ensure there was no polio case in Tamil Nadu. There was no report of whooping cough and diphtheria too in the last several years.

Besides, Tetanus had been eradicated. The number of measles cases had come down and no death was reported, the release said.

In Tamil Nadu, 12 lakh expectant mothers and 11.5 lakh infants benefitted from the immunisation programme every year. The State stood first in implementing the WHO-sponsored immunisation programme.

UNI SNR RL KP1812