The number of lives lost due to viral hepatitis infections is increasing and already accounts for 3,500 deaths daily, according to this report by the World Health Organization (WHO). This is the first consolidated WHO report on viral hepatitis epidemiology, service coverage and product access, with improved data for action. …
Recent headlines worldwide reported the US government’s use of a fake vaccination programme in Pakistan for counter-terrorism purposes. Whether the story is true or not, the damage is already done once there is the slightest suspicion that a medical activity like a vaccination campaign may have a motive other than …
THE national vaccine policy draft, submitted in the Delhi High Court recently, strongly favours inclusion of new vaccines in the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP). The court had sought the draft from the Centre last year in a case against introduction of new vaccines. It will hear the case next on …
Ajay and Pooja Naik lament the day they took their child for a special vaccination programme. Soon after Yathartha’s birth last year, Ajay learned that a government hospital in Indore in Madhya Pradesh was offering vaccines against many diseases, including polio, H1N1 and hepatitis, for free. What he did not …
Measles remains an important cause of child mortality, although the numbers of measles-related deaths has decreased during the last decade through childhood immunisation programmes and follow-up measles vaccine campaigns. In 2005, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) launched a global plan to further reduce …
GOVERNMENT circles seem to abound with good intentions these days. Especially with respect to the environment. The drive to correct past mistakes has acquired extra zeal. For example, a new draft policy to regulate wetlands begins with the lament that the country has lost a third of its wetlands (see …
As a part of an awareness drive against Japanese Encephalitis, a vaccination camp will be organized by the NRHM from April 2 to April 22 targetting children between 1 to 15 years of age. A rally was taken out from Old Dak Bunglow here today. Tinsukia Deputy Commissioner KK Dwevedi …
The Director Animal Husbandry, Hyderabad has advised the livestock owners to get their animals vaccinated as there are possibilities of spread of various diseases. He warned that diseases including Black Quarter and Entero Toxaemia could spread in between April to June 2008. He advised the livestock owners to get their …
The controversy over the city district government's animal vaccination drive continues to rage as animals are reportedly developing abscesses and falling ill, while some have died after being administered an unknown vaccine by CDGK-hired contractors
The Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), Sindh, has decided to refocus the routine immunisation efforts to realise the goal of making Sindh a polio free province. Talking to Dawn on Tuesday, the Project Director of EPI, Sindh, Dr Salma Ali, claimed that efforts were being intensified to contain the polio …
Experts at a seminar yesterday said bird flu is a national crisis but we can tackle it by taking preventive measures. They said cooked chicken and boiled eggs are safe to eat. Prof Khwaja Nazimuddin, secretary general of APB, presided over the seminar organised by Association of Physicians of Bangladesh …
With the Union Health Ministry setting its sights on establishing a comprehensive vaccine manufacturing unit with World Health Organisation's licence, the three oldest government vaccine manufacturing units in the country have stopped production. Pasteur Institute, Coonoor, Udhagamandalam; BCG Vaccine Laboratory, Chennai; and Central Research Institute, Kasauli, Uttar Pradesh, have stopped …
As doctors struggle to eradicate polio worldwide, one of their biggest problems is persuading parents to vaccinate their children. In Belgium, authorities are resorting to an extreme measure: prison sentences. Two sets of parents in Belgium were recently handed five month prison terms for failing to vaccinate their children against …
A dangerous type of childhood meningitis has been virtually eliminated in Uganda in just five years after a vaccine was introduced, according to a study released this week. That should save the lives of 5,000 children a year, the authors estimated. "This is the first time we've seen this kind …
The Assam government on Thursday banned clinical trials on humans of a genetically engineered vaccine developed by Dhaniram Baruah, a cardiac surgeon from the State. He claimed that the vaccine corrected genetic defects causing heart diseases and diabetes and even prevented cancer. Dr. Baruah was jailed by the State government …
Experts at a conference here yesterday emphasised on adequate veterinary service with appropriate technology and human resources in the South Asian countries to reduce the threat of H5N1 (Avian Influenza) infection in poultry and humans and secure national, regional and global trade in poultry and poultry products. They also stressed …
With 1.67 million cases of malaria and around 1,000 deaths last year, the government has changed the drug policy and directed states from January this year to introduce the ACT (artesunate and sulpha pyrimethamine) combination as the first line of anti-malarial drug treatment in chloroquine-resistant areas. Dr G S Sonal, …
Novartis, the Swiss pharmaceutical group, is stepping up the case for use of its experimental pandemic flu vaccine even ahead of a new virus mutation that could trigger a future lethal outbreak in humans. Jorg Reinhardt, head of vaccines and diagnostics, said the company would publish scientific data showing that …
The Influenza Foundation of India (IFI), an advisory body to bring awareness on the disease as also its prevention and control, has issued several recommendations to curb the ill-effects of seasonal influenza, especially during the avian flu outbreak. Stating that in India's healthcare map avian influenza is currently the most …
