pneumonia

Indian government has decided to include a vaccine for pneumonia in the national immunization programme.

Pneumonia is responsible for nearly 20% of all childhood fatalities in India. vaccine that cover DPT (diphtheria, pertusis, tetanus), hepatitis B and pneumonia and meningitis caused by the Hib bacteria.

Single-shot vaccine would be expensive.India will soon start vaccinating children against pneumonia, which accounts for a fifth of all deaths of kids below five years in the country.

A single shot will protect children against several diseases. Vaccines with antigens for five diseases are already in widespread use around the world. More than 130 countries have shifted to pentavalent vaccines while India still uses tetravalent vaccines in its national immunization programme.

India leads the world in under-five mortality, with 20 lakh children dying every year. Of these, four lakh deaths are due to pneumonia.

A high-level meeting of international and national experts is planned for April 16 and 17 to decide on the delivery system.

Experts say mass vaccination for pneumonia can prevent the deaths of one lakh children every year.