Govt moves to fight Jap Encephalitis

A national plan for immunisation against JE is being prepared and an inter-ministerial group has been formed to assist in the procurement of vaccines.

‘‘The Government has decided to procure about 50 lakh vaccines before the year-end so that we can start the programme before January,’’ said P K Hota, Health Secretary.

While some 10 lakh vaccines are likely to be manufactured in India, the rest are likely to be imported from countries like Japan, South Korea and China. ‘‘We will double manufacturing capacity at the Central Research Institute in Kasauli from five lakh to 10 lakh,’’ Hota said.

The Government has decided to start a ‘‘well timed immunisation programme’’ from December. ‘‘Immunisation has to be completed by January as the vaccines have to be given much before the disease season,’’ he said. It’s not a vaccine that can be administered during an epidemic. Immunity has to be built before the epidemic season starts, much before the rains.

The strategy is to immunise children in the age group of two to ten years in the endemic areas. ‘‘The focus will be on people below poverty level as they are the most affected,’’ he said.

The Government has invited flak for not going in for vaccination though the JE vaccine is available. Annual incidence of JE in the country is between 1,765 to 3,428 cases with annual death count ranging between 400 and 700. After every outbreak, states and the Centre have been locked in a blame game.