UP govt includes Hepatitis B vaccine in routine immunisation plan

“We will include the Hepatitis B vaccine in our routine immunization programme from next month in all the districts,” said Dr Ramji Lal,Director General,Health and Family Welfare,Uttar Pradesh. “We have already got enough supply of vaccines from the Government of India,and the training of staff for the purpose is almost complete.”

The vaccination will be given at least three times to a child. The zero dose will be given within 24 hours of the birth of the child. As per experts,the most common method of spread of the Hepatitis B infection is from a mother to her newborn. However,if the vaccination is administered within 12 to 24 hours of birth,the child can be saved from getting the infection.

The second,third and fourth doses will be given along with doses of DPT vaccine,in one-and-a-half months,two-and-a-half months and three-and-a-half months from birth,respectively. Three doses of the vaccine ensure about 90 to 95 per cent immunization against the virus of hepatitis B for the lifetime.

The training of ANMs,medical officers and district immunization officers is being undertaken in all the districts. The department is also holding sensitisation camps for ASHAs and Anganwadi workers to tell them about Hepatitis B and protection against it,said Dr Lal. A total of 63 lakh doses were demanded by the state government,of which 26 lakh doses have already arrived in the four drug depots of Uttar Pradesh,he added.

Dr G Choudhari,head of the department of gastroenterology at SGPGI,who has been working for creating awareness about Hepatitis B in the state since 2004,appreciated the government’s move to include the vaccination against Hepatitis B.

“Hepatitis B infection is more dangerous than HIV infection. While HIV has infected 0.9 per cent of the population in the country,Hepatitis B infects 3 to 4 per cent and is the most common cause of death due to liver ailments,” said Dr Choudhari.