Dear Viewers

Global effort is to close the immunization gap [World Immunization week -2016]. This gap is generally attributed to inadequate coverage: 1 in 5 in the world, 1 in 3 in the country and 1 in 5 in Karnataka are missing routine primary vaccination. This is understandable and measures like meticulous micro-plan, monitoring with supportive supervision, regular programme review, All Time Mission Mode [ATM²izing] regular sessions, using extended Immunogram etc can improve the coverage over a period of time.

National Technical Advisory Group consisting of senior specialists from pediatrics, public health, international development partners etc have developed National Immunization Schedule of our country - compatible with the country specific VPD epidemiology, end game strategy for achieving the global goals and objectives to be achieved by 2020. Private sectors have to proactively involve themeselves to strengthen RI, support the Government and protect the godly under five.

Considerable children both in the rural (~12%) to >25% in the urban area are vaccinated by the private sector at the clinics to tertiary care centers and private Medical Colleges. These children belong to middle to higher socioeconomic class – including doctors & nurses. Children of low socio economic group, migrant population and remote area are blessed and vaccinated by the public sectors who receive essential vaccines of National Immunization Schedule with known potency indirectly depicted by the VVM.

But the children of high economic society are vaccinated but mst likely to remain unimmunized due to various reasons: incompatible immunization schedule, vaccines with no VVM. Four illustrations attached though several thousands / lakhs are suffering from the same in our country.

I am sure that WE CAN CERTAINLY DO A LOT IN THIS REGARD.