Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) Introduction

Talking Points for Honorable Chief Minister Andhra Pradesh

AMARAVATI (prajaamaravati) 25th August

• In Andhra Pradesh annually. we vaccinate 9 lacs, pregnant women, with Td and 8.5 lacs children against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases.

• Our health team organizes 6 lacs Routine Immunization sessions annually. This herculean task of vaccinating the children is done with help of 17000 ANMs across the State.

• Immunization is one of the most cost-effective public health interventions for the protection of children from life-threatening conditions which are preventable and thus it plays a pivotal role in the reduction of child mortality.

• As part of Routine Immunization, we are administering 11 different types of vaccines, which are; BCG, Hep. B, Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV), Pentavalent Vaccine, Rota Virus Vaccine (RVV), Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine (JE), Measles and Rubella (MR), DPT, Tetanus Toxoid and Diphtheria Toxoid (Td)

• The Government of India (GoI) has introduced Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) in 2017 in five states, namely Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan. In the year 2021, along with other States, Andhra Pradesh has been included for the introduction of PCV to reduce Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and under-five mortality (U5). These are very important indicators of child health.

• As you are aware Pneumonia is a major cause of Infant and child mortality, and it is a known fact that pneumococcal pneumonia, which is caused by Streptococcus Pneumoniae, is a major contributor to mortality. It is estimated that in the year 2015 Streptococcus pneumoniae has affected around 16 lakh children with severe pneumococcal disease (including severe pneumonia and meningitis) and caused nearly 68,700 deaths in the age group of 1-59 months children across the country.

• I would like to appeal to all my health team, line departments, and my state people that PCV is a safe and effective vaccine and is administered in three doses at the age of 1 ½ months (6 weeks), 3 ½ months (14 weeks), and on 9th month. Remember PCV is an expensive vaccine, therefore, we should strive for minimum wastage and maximum usage.

• Let us join hands to fight against the deadly disease “Pneumonia” and make Andhra Pradesh a Healthy State. I wish all my team the best of luck and congratulations on their efforts to get this PCV vaccine rolled out in Andhra Pradesh.