Kathmandu [Nepal]Apr 08 (ANI): Nepal has launched a new immunization campaign by introducing Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) in the routine immunization program targeting people aged 15 months to 15 years.
The typhoid vaccination campaign has started with the support of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other partners, including India.
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“Now the typhoid vaccine is being rolled out across the country. This campaign is only aimed at protecting children from typhoid as pollution increases with contamination. These vaccines are now being provided by the Indian government as a This campaign started in April,” Laxmi Manandhar, one of the health personnel deployed by the Nepalese government, told ANI.
The three-week campaign, which will run from April 8 to May 1, 2022, aims to reach all children aged 15 months to 15 years to quickly achieve broader protection against typhoid, increase the impact of the introduction of vaccine and fight the rise of antimicrobial resistance.
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More than 50,000 vaccination sites have been established in rural and urban areas of the country, including schools. Immediately after the campaign, TCV will be introduced into the routine immunization schedule and will be given regularly to children at the age of 15 months, says a joint press release issued by partner organizations Gavi, WHO and WHO. UNICEF.
The campaign aims to achieve 95% coverage of nearly 7.5 million children with the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) and simultaneously identify ‘zero dose’ children and those who have missed other vaccines from routine.
Nepal is a typhoid endemic country and is estimated to have one of the highest typhoid burdens in the world. The nationwide introduction means that children under the age of 15 in the country will now be able to access the vaccine for free.
“With this vaccine, I hope children don’t get sick as quickly as before. I expect it to create immunity that strengthens their system so they don’t get sick easily,” said Kamala Panta, a local, at ANI after having her child vaccinated.
The TCV campaign will also strengthen and promote routine immunization in Nepal by identifying children aged 15-23 months who have missed other routine vaccines, and ensure they are able to access these vaccines and to be fully immunized and protected, the statement said.
Based on lessons learned from the successful measles rubella campaign in 2020, the TCV campaign will also be used to identify zero-dose children – children who have not received a single dose of the core measles vaccines. diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) vaccine. Zero-dose children face multiple deprivations and are markers of acute inequalities.
Out-of-school children will be identified by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and caregivers will be educated and informed on where to go for routine vaccinations with the support of local leaders and health workers . Good hygiene behaviors will also be encouraged throughout the campaign to help prevent the spread of the virus.
Nepal is the fourth Gavi-supported country to introduce TCV into its routine immunization programme. Pakistan, Liberia and Zimbabwe have all introduced the vaccine, with support from Gavi and partners including UNICEF.
The Global Burden of Disease study estimated that in 2019 there were at least 82,449 typhoid cases and 919 typhoid deaths in Nepal. (ANI)
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