Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Do not ban the pentavalent vaccine

Do not ban the pentavalent vaccine

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Oct 1, 2013   modified Modified on Oct 1, 2013
-The Economic Times


The government must explain to the Supreme Court, with scientific evidence, why the pentavalent vaccine, now introduced into the immunisation programme, should not be banned.

The vaccine is designed to combat five childhood diseases: diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, Hepatitis B, pneumonia and meningitis. So far, more than 82,000 doses have been administered and there have been 29 cases of adverse effects after immunisation. After examining the evidence, it is unclear whether the vaccine had anything to do with the deaths of the infants.

Of the 15 victims in Kerala, only one death probably occurred as a side effect of the vaccine. The government decided to launch it after long research and debate. The drug had been withdrawn in Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bhutan but reintroduced after it was shown that there were no obvious links between the vaccine and post-vaccination adverse events.

The court has to see that the social cost of banning the vaccine and exposing children to five avoidable illnesses is greater than the risk of any adverse reaction.

In India, nearly 3,50,000 children die from pneumonia and meningitis every year; the vaccine protects against both. Of the children who have died after vaccination, many had pre-existing ailments, such as congenital heart disease. In such cases, the lack of awareness among parents, and midwives and health workers who administer the vaccine, is the main risk, not the drug itself.

The post-vaccination result might depend on the quality of clinics giving it. Reports say that in the Christian Medical College, Vellore, 31,200 children get the vaccine every year. There have been no adverse reactions so far. In Sri Lanka, after it was found that most fatalities were from congenital heart disease, the vaccine is now administered under medical supervision.


The Economic Times, 1 October, 2013, http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/editorial/do-not-ban-the-pentavalent-vaccine/articleshow/23323029.cms


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close