CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian on Tuesday inaugurated the pneumococcal vaccine campaign for kids under the age of five years on Tuesday at a public health centre at Poonamalle. While addressing the audiance, the minister said that bringing the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) under the universal immunization programme will reduce the death rate in children under five years of age due to pneumonia and meningitis.

He said, each child, according to the state health department, will be given three doses of vaccine i.e,  in the 6th week, 14th week, and 9th month respectively. This is to protect children from pneumonia, one of the major causes for the death of children under the age of five.

According to the health department statement,  pneumonia in children is mainly caused by Hemophilus influenza and Streptococcus pneumonia. While the incidence of pneumonia due to Hemophilus influenza was earlier 85%, it has now been reduced to 15% due to the Penta vaccine.  With the administration of PCV, pneumonia due to Streptococcus pneumonia will be reduced, the health department said. The health department added that this programme has reduced the incidence of pneumonia among children in developed countries like the United States.

Get vaccination completed and treat yourself with 'chole bhature' for free

Serum Institute to start production of Sputnik V, 30 crore doses to be produced every year

Sputnik V's nationwide soft launch reaches more than 50 cities