Vaccines for children may be broadly classified as Essential (EPI) vaccines included in national immunization schedule – BCG, OPV, DPT, Measles and Hepatitis B, Recommended or Optional vaccines e.g. MMR, H. influenza B, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Varicella, Vaccine for selective use e.g. High-risk children: Pneumococci, Meningococci, influenza virus Post-exposure: Anti-rabies vaccine and Combination Vaccines & Newer vaccines. ESSENTIAL (EPI) Vaccines for [...]
Continue reading …Varicella vaccine: Although Varicella is a common and highly contagious infection, this vaccine is not recommended for universal immunization due to relatively benign nature of disease in childhood. It may be offered to all affording children/adolescents without previous disease or in high-risk cases e.g. — a) Contact with a case within preceding 3 days, b) [...]
Continue reading …Hepatitis A vaccination (HAV): Although hepatitis A is a common infection in India, universal HAV immunization is not recommended due to relatively benign nature of disease. It may be offered as an optional vaccine to all affording children/adolescents without preceding natural disease or in high-risk cases e.g. — a) Household contact with a case (within [...]
Continue reading …HIB vaccination: HIB infection is one of the leading cause of pneumonia and meningitis in infants and toddlers, though the incidence declines with advancing age and uncommon beyond 5 years. Although considered as an essential vaccine by lAP for all children, high cost prohibits its inclusion in NIS. Currently, it is recommended as an optional [...]
Continue reading …Typhoid vaccination are of three types that are Whole-cell inactivated vaccines, Live attenuated oral vaccine (Ty2 1 strain), and parenteral Vi capsular polysaccharide vaccine. However, only the polysaccharide vaccine is currently available in Asian countries. Contents: Each dose contains 25 mgIO.5 ml of capsular polysaccharide units (Vi antigen). Supply & storage: It is supplied as [...]
Continue reading …Hepatitis b vaccination (HBV) has been recently included in MS since Anuary 1 s, 2004. Currently, two types of HBV are available a) plasma-derived, b) recombinant DNA vaccines, both being equally safe, effective and interchangeable for different doses in same child. Although may be given at any age, currently govemment supplies it only for vaccination [...]
Continue reading …MMR vaccine is a combined viral vaccine, containing live attenuated strains of measles (Schwarz strain), mumps (Urabe Am 9 strain) and rubella (Wister ReX/3M). It is given as a single dose (0.5 ml) at 15-18 months of age and provides >95% protection against all three infections. MMR has been recently included in NIS as a [...]
Continue reading …Measles vaccine is available as a single disease vaccine or in combination with mumps and rubella. Contents: It is a live attenuated vaccine prepared from Edmonston-Zagreb or Schwarz strain, containing 1000 TCID50/dose. Supply & storage of Measles vaccine: It is available as single dose or multi- dose vial containing lyophilized powder, along with a diluent and should [...]
Continue reading …Measles vaccine side effects - Measles vaccine per se is very safe, though it has been implicated in maximum number of immunization-related deaths due to inadequate aseptic precautions and bacterial contamination. Important Measles vaccine side effects include — a) Mild local reaction at injection site, b) Mild fever and rash after 7 days, and c) Very [...]
Continue reading …Oral polio vaccine (OPV): Two types of polio vaccines are available – a live, oral, Sabin vaccine and an inactivated, parenteral Salk vaccine, named after their developers. In India, OPV is used under NIS. Contents – OPV is a live attenuated, polyvalent vaccine, containing three strains of virus – I, II, and III, in concentrations [...]
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