VACCINES SAVE LIVES, PREVENT SUFFERING AND FINANCIAL LOSS

Smallpox in humans and Rinderpest in cattle and other livestock are viral diseases that have been completely eradicated by vaccines. Polio would have been eradicated if a few communities had not resisted vaccination due to misinformation.

- DR P.S. VENKATESH RAO

Many other viral infections, like measles and rubella, have been eliminated from communities vaccinated early in life. Thanks to a new vaccine, group A meningococcal meningitis, a bacterial infection, is no more an epidemic threat in the "meningitis belt" of Africa. Max Theiler received the Nobel Prize in 1951 for his work on the yellow fever vaccine. John Enders, Thomas Weller, and Frederick Robbins shared the 1954 Nobel Prize for a breakthrough that made the Polio vaccine possible in 1955 (injectable) by Jonas Salk and in 1960 (Oral) by Albert Sabin. Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman received the Nobel Prize in 2023 for their groundbreaking discoveries that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines.

ROUTINE VACCINES FOR CHILDREN

Children are born with immature immune systems, making them highly vulnerable to infections like measles, polio, and tuberculosis. Vaccines prime the immune system to recognize and fight pathogens without causing the disease. Following the schedule ensures herd immunity, protecting not just the vaccinated children but the entire community.

AT BIRTH

BCG (for tuberculosis) is given intradermally, in the left upper arm.

Hepatitis B (birth dose) is given intramuscularly, in the thigh.

OPV-O (oral polio vaccine) as oral drops 6, 10, and 14 Weeks

Pentavalent vaccine (DPT + Hepatitis B + Hib) protects against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type b.

OPV 1,2,3 for continued oral polio protection.

Rotavirus vaccine given orally prevents severe diarrheal disease.

PCV (Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine) prevents pneumonia and meningitis.

9 MONTHS

Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine prevents measles and rubella.

The JE vaccine (in endemic areas) protects against Japanese Encephalitis.

16-24 MONTHS