Immunisation drive likely to be affected

Kathmandu, May 13:

Immunisation drive against Japanese encephalitis (JE) might not be effective this year due to delay in the procurement of vaccines.

The vaccines have to be administered before the start of the pre-monsoon season. According to an official at the Health Ministry, the vaccine will not be effective if it is given after the outbreak of the disease. “Lengthy government procedure was the major obstacle in procuring vaccines on time,” said the official requesting anonymity.

It took nine months to finalise the procurement deal. Last year also, the fund provided by the World Bank lapsed due to delay in the procurement process. The vaccine has to be administered in April and May but it is unlikely to be delivered before June.

The Department of Health Services signed an agreement with Chengdu Institute of Biological Products, China, on May 10 to buy 3.5 million doses of vaccine (SA-14-14-2) worth Rs 82.4 million for this year for the people of four endemic districts and children below 15 years of age of two Terai districts.

Last year 1264 JE cases were reported with 88 deaths. JE causes paralysis and brain damage leading to death. Each year around 3,000 get infected with JE and about 300 die on an average, according to Epidemiology and Disease Control Division.

Admitting that there has been delay in the procurement process, Dr Mahendra Bahadur Bista, acting director general at the Department of Health Services (DoHS), said the government at least is buying vaccines for this year.

“The price, too, is much less than that of Korea.”

The expanded programme on immunisation (EPI) is organising immunisation drive against JE in four hyper-endemic districts namely Banke, Bardia, Kailali and Dang for the population above one year. In Rupendhehi and Kanchanpur, children below 15 years of age will be vaccinated.

Dr Shyam Raj Upreti, chief of EPI at the Child Health Division, said vaccines will be provided as soon as they get delivered.

Though the programme will be affected, Dr Upreti said it will help control deaths caused by the disease to some extent.

“We are also starting surveillance for adverse effect following immunisation,” said Dr Upreti. “Besides, we will give continuity to our regular immunisation programme after 9 to 12 months to the schoolchildren to complement the programme in six districts.”

First case of JE was detected in Rupendhehi in 1978. A total of 24 districts of Terai and Inner Terai are JE hyper endemic districts and 12.5 million population of these districts is at high risk. The disease appears in April/ May and August is its peak season.