National Immunisation Coverage in India

Context:

The WHO and UNICEF have released estimates for national immunisation coverage in 2022. The coverage rate for DPT3 vaccines, representing diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus, in India reached a new high of 93% in 2022.

• This surpasses the pre-pandemic record of 91% in 2019 and demonstrates a significant increase from 85% in 2021.

Relevance:

GS II: Government Policies and Interventions

Dimensions of the Article:

1. WHO and UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization Coverage
2. Universal Immunization Programme (UIP)
3. Mission Indradhanush
4. DPT3 Vaccine

WHO and UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization Coverage:

• WHO and UNICEF review reports and data from member states to estimate national immunization coverage.
• The estimates are country-specific and reflect the performance of immunization systems.

Global Coverage:

• Global immunization services reached 4 million more children in 2022 compared to the previous year.
• Approximately 20.5 million children worldwide remained unvaccinated or under-vaccinated in 2022.

Coverage in India:

• India accounted for 1.6 million of the unvaccinated and under-vaccinated children for the DPT-3 vaccine.
• DPT vaccine protects against diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus and is administered in three doses to children under 7 years old.
• India achieved 93% coverage for its 22.5 million infants in 2022.

Performance in WHO South-East Asia Region:

• The region showed the best immunization coverage improvements, mainly due to efforts in India and Indonesia.

Impact of Inequities in Immunization Coverage:

• Inequities in coverage create pockets of unvaccinated children and increase the risk of outbreaks of preventable diseases like measles and diphtheria.

Universal Immunization Programme (UIP)

Program Evolution:

• Expanded Programme on Immunization launched in 1978
• Renamed as Universal Immunization Programme in 1985 for expanded reach
• Integration with Child Survival and Safe Motherhood Programme in 1992
• Inclusion in National Reproductive and Child Health Programme in 1997
• Integral part of National Rural Health Mission since 2005

Program Scope:

• Targets approximately 2.67 crore newborns and 2.9 crore pregnant women annually
• One of the largest public health programmes in India

Vaccine Coverage:

• Free immunization provided against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases
• National Coverage (9 diseases):
  • Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, Rubella, severe form of Childhood Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, and Meningitis & Pneumonia caused by Hemophilus Influenza type B
• Sub-national Coverage (3 diseases):
  • Rotavirus diarrhoea, Pneumococcal Pneumonia, and Japanese Encephalitis

Full Immunization:

• Criteria for a child to be fully immunized
• All due vaccines as per national immunization schedule within the first year of the child’s age

Program Achievements:

• Elimination of polio in 2014
• Elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus in 2015

Mission Indradhanush (MI)

• MI was launched in December 2014
• Aims to increase full immunization coverage for children to 90%

Target Areas:

• Focus on pockets of low immunization coverage and hard-to-reach areas
• Prioritize areas with the highest proportion of unvaccinated and partially vaccinated children

Phases:

• Total of six phases of Mission Indradhanush completed
• Coverage extended to 554 districts across the country

Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI):

• Introduced in 2017
• Enhances the immunization campaign
• Seeks to achieve even higher immunization coverage levels

DPT3 Vaccine:

• The DPT vaccine is a combination vaccine that provides protection against three infectious diseases: diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), and tetanus.
• The vaccine contains diphtheria and tetanus toxoids, as well as either killed whole cells of the pertussis-causing bacteria or pertussis antigens.
• Administration of the DPT vaccine involves a primary dose given as part of the pentavalent vaccine, followed by two booster doses at 16-24 months and 5-6 years of age, respectively.

Diphtheria:

• Diphtheria is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae.
• It primarily affects children between the ages of 1 and 5 years, with higher incidence during colder months in temperate climates.

Tetanus:

• Tetanus is an infection caused by the bacteria Clostridium tetani.
• The bacteria produce a toxin that leads to painful muscle contractions.
• Tetanus bacteria typically enter the body through breaks in the skin.
• It does not spread from person to person.

Pertussis:

• Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis.
• The bacteria attach to the cilia in the upper respiratory system and release toxins, damaging the cilia and causing airway swelling.
• Pertussis can easily spread from person to person through the air.

-Source: Indian Express, The Hindu