Giving a much relief to Parent of infants the health department has introduced the pentavalent vaccine.
Touted as ‘five in one’, it is given to prevent diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, and Hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) infections. The, vaccine which costs Rs 500 for the three doses, will be given free of cost at all Govt hospitals.
According to health department, since the schedule for DPT, hepatitis B and Hib is same at 6, 10 and 14 weeks, if these three vaccines are given separately, a child gets three injections at the same time. Giving a pentavalent vaccine will reduce the number of injections from nine to six during the first year of life.
“Pentavalent can prevent pneumonia deaths caused by Hib. About 35 to 40 pc of infants died due to pneumonia. If pentavalent is administered, then this can be reduced to 3 pc,” said Ranga Reddy district immunisation officer Nirmal Kumar.
The vaccine will be available from the third week of April at all government hospitals. Children who have already surpassed six weeks of age before introduction of vaccine will continue with the present vaccination schedule but newborns will be administered pentavalent vaccine.