ICH extends vaccination for pneumococcal disease

However, considering the high mortality rate due to pneumococcal diseases among children, hospital authorities have extended vaccination schedule for children who have undergone cardiac surgeries and suffer from severe lung diseases.

In 2018, 35 children died due to pneumonia at ICH, while more than 2,300 cases of pneumococcal diseases were recorded at the hospital.

“There are two types of vaccine. Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV 13) for kids below 2 and Pneumococcal Poly-Saccharide Vaccine (PPSV-23) for children above 2. The PCV-13 costs Rs 4,000 and PPSV-23 costs Rs 1,500 in private hospitals, not affordable by many families Thus, we have decided to provide the vaccine free of cost for high-risk children,” said Dr T Arasar Seeralar, director, ICH.

The vaccines were earlier given to paediatrics who undergo splenectomy. The vaccine was also available for those with sickle cell anaemia and those who underwent cochlear implants as they are at a high risk of pneumonia.

“The vaccination programme for paediatrics against pneumococcal diseases has not yet been adopted here because it was launched only on a pilot project basis in TN. We will include it in the programme soon,” said Dr R Sathish Kumar, immunisation medical officer at director of public health and preventive medicine.