In the latest development, the Indian government is making preparation for a nationwide implementation of the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) under its Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP). The administration approximates that a countrywide deployment of the PCV could use up to 50% of the UIP budget, excluding shared expenses like staff remuneration and administrative costs. Currently, the vaccine, which is the priciest in the UIP catalogue, covers about half of the total birth cohort of 26 million in states like Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
Challenges in the rollout of PCV
The PCV was first introduced into the UIP selection in 2017. However, financial implications have been a major deterrent to its complete implementation. This obstacle is bound to intensify as the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI), which promotes equal access to vaccines for children by bringing together public and private sectors, prepares to end its support for India from 2022.
About Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine
The PCV acts to prevent pneumococcal disease. It is a concoction of several bacteria belonging to the pneumococci family, all known to cause pneumonia, hence the term ‘conjugate’ added to the vaccine’s name. Conjugate vaccines combine two different components in their make-up.
Pneumococcal Disease: An Overview
Pneumococcal disease is an infection caused by pneumococcal bacteria, manifesting in various forms of illnesses, one common one being pneumonia, an infection of the lungs. The pneumococcal bacteria are one of the most prevalent causes of pneumonia.
Even though anyone can contract pneumococcal disease, certain demographics are more susceptible. These include children under 2 years of age, individuals with certain medical conditions, adults aged 65 years or older, and cigarette smokers.
Status of Pneumococcal Disease in India
According to data from 2010, the yearly occurrence of severe pneumococcal pneumonia in the country was estimated at 4.8 episodes per 1,000 children aged fewer than five years. The top five contributors to India’s pneumococcal pneumonia burden, both in terms of the number of cases and deaths were Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Jharkhand.
| States | Cases |
|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | High |
| Bihar | High |
| Madhya Pradesh | High |
| Rajasthan | High |
| Jharkhand | High |
About The Universal Immunization Programme
The UIP was initiated by the government in 1985 with a mission to curb mortality and morbidity among children and expecting mothers from 12 vaccine-preventable diseases. As part of UIP, vaccinations against twelve vaccine-preventable diseases i.e., Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Hepatitis B, Pneumonia and Meningitis due to Haemophilus Influenzae type b (Hib), Measles, Rubella, Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Rotavirus diarrhoea, are provided free of cost. Despite being one of the largest health programmes globally, the UIP has only managed to fully immunize 65% of children under the age of one year.
