Pneumonia and Diarrhoea Progress Report

Why in news?

• India has made significant progress in its vaccination coverage to prevent child pneumonia and diarrhoea deaths, according to the latest annual Pneumonia and Diarrhoea Progress Report released by the International Vaccine Access Centre (IVAC)

About the Report:

• India has achieved the global target of 90% coverage for three of the five vaccines whose coverage is monitored in the report.
• These vaccines are Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus (DPT) vaccine, Measles-containing-vaccine first dose, Haemophilus influenzae type B, pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), and rotavirus vaccine.
• While India’s coverage of rotavirus vaccine increased by 18 percentage points (35% rotavirus coverage in 2018 expanded to 53% in 2019), coverage against pneumococcal pneumonia increased by 9 percentage points (6% PCV coverage in 2018 expanded to 15% in 2019).
• In 2019, India completed the “100-day agenda” — an unprecedented national scale-up of rotavirus vaccine.

Other Findings of the Report:

• The report tracked progress by analysing 10 indicators from the latest available data on how countries are delivering key interventions — including breastfeeding, immunisation, care-seeking and antibiotics, oral rehydration solution (ORS), and zinc supplementation — shown to prevent pneumonia and diarrhoea deaths.
• However, nearly every country included in the report lagged in access to treatments against pneumonia and diarrhoea.
• India failed to reach all four targets for treatment, the report stated, adding that the treatment for diarrhoea had the lowest coverage, with only 51% of children receiving ORS and 20% getting zinc.

About International Vaccine Access Centre (IVAC):

• The International Vaccine Access Center is located at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, United States.
• It accelerates equitable access to vaccines through the generation, synthesis, and use of evidence to inform decision-making and action.

PRELIMS QUESTION

Consider the following statements:
1.Measles vaccine is part of universal immunisation program in India.
2.WHO has certified India as a 'Polio Free' country.
Which among the above statements is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to prelims question