a day ago
Japanese Encephalitis vaccination drive in Tirunelveli district from today; over 2.99 lakh children to be covered
Vaccination against Japanese Encephalitis, a vector-borne disease spreading through Culex vishnui mosquitoes, will commence in the district from Wednesday (August 13).
In a statement, District Collector R. Sukumar said the Culex vishnui mosquitoes breeding in the paddy or sugarcane fields spread the Japanese Encephalitis causing death in 25% of the cases while causing serious paralysis in 50% cases in the age group between 1 and 15.
Hence, the vaccination drive is being launched in the district from August 13 onwards to protect the children from Japanese Encephalitis by organising special camps in the schools and the anganwadis.
These proven safe vaccines will be administered by trained village health nurses and the nurses in the right antero lateral aspect of mid thigh for the children between the age of 1 and 2 while the injection will be administered in the right upper arm for the children between 3 and 15 years of age.
In Tirunelveli district, 2,99,593 children including 86,153 children in the age of 1 to 5 and 2,13,440 children in the age of 5 and 15 will be vaccinated.
If the children suffer fever with mild pain in the injection area after the vaccination, paracetamol may be given. If any other ailments are noticed after the vaccination, the children may be taken to the doctors of the primary health centres or the government hospitals for the right medical advise. The parents also contact 104 for medical assistance, Dr. Sukumar said.
