Parents will no longer have to worry and wait in long queues for their infant's vaccination. All kinds of immunisation required for infants, right from BCG, DPT, measles, polio and hepatitis B can be availed every day at the district and taluk hospitals and primary health centres now. This step from the State Health Department comes forward to ensure that , every child in the state receives all doses of immunisation required at the correct time and is protected against any illness. This in turn will definitely lead to a reduction in the infant mortality rate (IMR).
Dr Y. Ramesh Babu, Research Officer, Reproductive and Child Health (RCH), Department of Health and Family Welfare told Deccan Chronicle, “General vaccination for infants was available at general hospitals and primary health centres only once a week on Thursdays, and every week these immunization units at hospitals and health centres saw parents waiting in long queue carrying their infants.”
When asked about the staff manning these units he said, “Permanent vaccinators and a staff nurse will be in charge of these units and will be available on all working days from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm.” On the importance of infant vaccination, Dr Ramesh added, “Babies are born with some natural immunity which they get from their mother and through breast-milk. This gradually wears off as the baby's own immune system starts to develop. Having your child immunized gives extra protection against infectious diseases.”
All vaccinations are available at private hospitals too but one needs to pay for them, whereas they are free at the district and taluk government hospitals and primary health centres. Says Aruna, a resident of Basavangudi and a mother of a one year old baby, “I work as a domestic maid for three families in an apartment, so whenever I need to take my child for vaccination, my entire day goes. I have to wait in the queue for which I have to take leave for a day which means loss of a day’s payment.”