The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday inducted rotavirus vaccine in the routine immunisation programme to protect 57 lakh children in the state from diarrhoea.
Launching the vaccine, state Women and Child Welfare Minister Rita Bahuguna Joshi said the government was of the firm opinion that the vaccine will play a monumental role in bringing down infant mortality rate in the state.
"Rotavirus can cause extreme diarrhoea in children and can even be fatal in some cases. I am extremely happy that we have inducted the rotavirus vaccine in the routine immunisation programme, which will protect our children from this deadly virus," she said.
A media workshop was conducted on the occasion to sensitise the participants on the importance of the work so they can spread awareness and educate the masses about the importance of the vaccine, an official release said.
Emphasising on the importance and use of the vaccine, national immunisation officer Dr A P Chaturvedi said, "All newborns must be administered the vaccine in a three-dose schedule over six, 10 and 14 weeks along with five drops of pentavalent one, two and three vaccine."
Director General, Family Welfare, Dr Neena Gupta said, "More than 2.1 crore doses of rotavirus vaccine have been administered to children till May 2018. We will be protecting 57 lakh newborns every year against rotavirus diarrhoea with the introduction of the vaccine."
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