INEFFECTIVENESS OF JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS VACCINES DURING TRANSMISSION HAUNTS STATE
Guwahati: The vaccines of Japanese Encephalitis are not effective during the period of its transmission. The experts from ministry of health and family welfare have asked the state government not to apply the vaccines.
Japanese Encephalitis and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome has affected 24 states around the state killing over 100 people. Districts like Barpeta, Nagaon, Baksa, Darrang, Sonitpur, Nalbari and Bongaigaon are largely affected.
Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi asked the health department to take measure against the disease with the vaccination process being stopped for some time.
Moreover there is a shortage of vaccines in the state and it will take up to four months to get more vaccines. In a meeting yesterday the chief minister and health experts discussed about starting a vaccination drive from Novenber onwards.
“Principal secretary, health and family welfare department, Sanjeeva Kumar met the Union secretary of health and family welfare department, Lov Verma and apprised him of the situation. The health ministry officials including the experts are of the view that during the transmission phase of the disease vaccination will not yield the desired results. Moreover, the minimum time required for procurement and supply of the vaccine is three to four months, which means that the JE vaccination is expected to start only by November, subject to availability of vaccines,” the CM’s office stated.
The chief minister also asked the health department to get more vaccines and medicines that the shortage does not arise again.
“The CM has instructed the health authorities to spread bleaching powders, conduct fogging at the piggeries and hold awareness campaigns. He also enquired about the quantity of medicine available in the hospitals and health centres and instructed the health officials to procure medicines in advance to meet shortages, if there are any,” the CM’s office added.
Category: Assam, News, North East
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