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Rotavirus Vaccine to “EVERY CHILD”
Why in news?
- Union Health Minister has proposed a plan to provide Rotavirus vaccine to every childin India by September, 2019.
- The Plan will be a part of 100 days agenda of the newly elected government.
More in news
- About Rotavirus
(1) Itis a virus that infects the bowels, causing a severe inflammation of the stomach and bowels (known as gastroenteritis).
(2) Rotavirus causes the following symptoms and signs
(a) Fever
(b) Vomiting
(c) Watery diarrhea
(3) Rotavirus infection is highly contagious. Theincubation period is typically about two days.
- Why the Need for Vaccination
(1) Diarrhoea leads to large number of children losing there life’s and Rotavirus causes of severe diarrhoea in children less than 2 years of age.
(2) In India, every year, 37 out of every 1,000 children born are unable to celebrate their 5th birthday due to diarrhoeal deaths.
- The menace of Rotavirus
(1) Rotavirus cause 8,72,000 hospitalisations
(2) 32,70,000 outpatient visits
(3) 78,000 deaths annually in India
- How to Prevent Rotavirus diarrhoea deaths
(1) Through Rota-vaccination
(2) good hygiene, frequent hand washing, safe water and safe food consumption
(3) exclusive breastfeeding ORS, zinc and vitamin A supplementation.