How vaccines shield children from pneumonia in India?
Verified by Dr. Sandeep Sawant– Senior Consultant at Apollo Children’s Navi Mumbai.
Pneumonia, a potentially life-threatening lung infection, once claimed countless young lives in India. Pneumonia vaccines play a crucial role in protecting children. Prior to vaccine interventions, pneumonia was a major childhood killer in India, responsible for nearly 20% of under-five deaths. This was mainly due to infections caused by pneumococcus bacteria, prevalent in the country’s crowded and often unsanitary conditions.
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV)
- In 2017, the PCV vaccine was introduced into India’s Universal Immunization Program (UIP), protecting children against various pneumococcal strains.
- Infants receive 3 doses of PCV in the first year and a booster dose between 12 to 18 months, ensuring early defense against the bacteria.
Benefits of PCV
- Reduces Pneumococcal Disease: Pneumococcal infection is the leading cause of child death in India under 5, with pneumonia being a major form. PCV effectively reduces cases of severe pneumonia and related deaths.
- Other serious infections: PCV also protects against other pneumococcal infections like meningitis, sepsis, and ear infections, contributing to reduced healthcare burden and complications.
- Herd Immunity: Vaccination not only protects the individual child but also indirectly protects unvaccinated individuals through herd immunity, reducing community transmission.
- Reduced antibiotic use: By mitigating pneumococcal infections, PCV helps decrease dependence on antibiotics, combating antibiotic resistance.
- Economic benefits: Reduced illness leads to fewer hospitalizations, healthcare costs, and improved economic well-being for families.
Overall, PCV represents a vital tool in safeguarding children’s health in India by significantly reducing pneumococcal disease burden and its associated consequences.
Consult our expert, Dr. Sandeep Sawant– Senior Consultant at Apollo Children’s Navi Mumbai for prevention and management pneumonia in children.
Call 022 6280 6280 for an appointment.