In what could be perceived as a disturbing trend, Vaccination in rural Bihar has been adversely affected due to casteism. According to the recent survey report, which was prepared after an on-the-spot study in 14 villages of Bihar’s nine districts, several instances of “caste discrimination” have came to fore. For instance, such was the social divide in a Rohtas village that Vaccinations could not take place either in Brahmin’s tola (colony) or...

-BBC Global efforts to cut the number of deaths from measles have fallen short of World Health Organization (WHO) targets. An analysis published in the Lancet said deaths had fallen by 74% between 2000 and 2010, but the target was 90%. Outbreaks in Africa and delays in Vaccination programmes in India have stalled progress, researchers say. A new campaign to tackle the disease has been launched, which will combine measles and rubella jabs. In 2000...

The accredited social health activists (ASHAs) — the first port of call for health care under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) — will be entrusted with additional responsibilities, albeit with better monetary incentives, as the Mission Steering Group – the highest decision making body of the NRHM — has approved the proposal for involving them in activities such as spacing between births, promoting iodised salt and village sanitation. The ASHAs...

-ANI The threat of Japanese encephalitis loomed large over Uttar Pradesh Gorakhpur District, claiming at least 45 lives, even though the administration has upgraded healthcare centres to ensure rehabilitation and cure for the affected. Locals have attributed the spread of the epidemic to lack of Vaccination this year. They contended that in the absence of proper preventive Vaccination, a new kind of encephalitis virus is doing the rounds. "The patients who are coming...

Each time 25 year old Salma takes her one year old son Zubair to the Batla Clinic (a private clinic in Delhi) for a shot of the DPT, the cost of transportation and the vaccine adds up to approximately Rs.500.   When it is time for Zubair to take the next immunization dose, Salma may find that the expenses have entirely spiraled out of her reach. New vaccines and expensive brands of baby...