New vaccine added to Universal Immunisation Programme

A new vaccine has been included under the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) in the past three years, parliament was informed Friday.

"Based on the recommendation of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI), one new vaccine - haemohilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine as Pentavalent vaccine combination (DPT+Hib+Hepatitis B) has been included under UIP in the past three years," Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

Haemohilus influenzae type b will help in the treatment of diseases like meningitis and pneumonia.

"NTAGI is the apex advisory body set up by the government to make recommendations on issues related to immunisation and introduction of new vaccines. Currently, no recommendation of NTAGI is pending," added Azad.

The other vaccines being administered are diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus (DPT), polio, measles, Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), hepatitis B and Japanese encephalitis (JE) in endemic districts.