With an aim to reduce under five mortality rate, the Union health ministry is all set to introduce Pentavalent vaccine in the National Immunisation programme in 11 high burden states. The move will reduce the injection load as a single shot of the vaccine has antigens of five diseases — Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B and HIB. While, the vaccine was first introduced in Kerala and Tamil Nadu and later to Karnataka, Puducherry, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, the health ministry has further decided to expand it to states like West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Jharkhand, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Assam. The move is expected to result in reduced injection load and low procurement of DPT vaccine. “While, the children will continue to get DPT vaccine, the number of doses will be less. The child will get the booster dose at one and half years and five years, instead of three doses that they were getting earlier, said a senior official in the health ministry. The pentavalent vaccine was recommended by NTAGI, an expert body on immunisation in 2008. While, the introduction of the vaccine received a strong resistance after some children had adverse effects. However, notwithstanding the NTAGI approved the national scale-up of the pentavalent vaccine along with activities to monitor potential adverse events after the technical sub-committee recommended the expansion. The vaccine is available in the private sector and is advised by the private practitioners. Experts say the pentavalent vaccine, which provides protection against five life-threatening diseases diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, Hepatitis B and Hib (Haemophilus influenza Type B) will help reduce the number of shots a child receives from nine to three. “It will make vaccinations easier and allow many economically disadvantaged children access to a vaccine that is already available widely from private doctors. A single auto-disable syringe will be used instead of three per child, thereby substantially reducing the plastic and sharp waste. While, pneumonia causes 20 per cent deaths in children under five, of this, one-third die due to Hib. This vaccine is definitely a boon for rural children who cannot afford this expensive vaccine from private practitioners,” an official added.