UP knuckles down,will use Centre’s JE vaccine

Earlier,the state government had refused to use the stock,which they found was nearing its expiry in July 2010.

The need for special campaign in seven districts of Gorakhpur and Basti division was felt as the earlier special campaign in these two division took place around four years ago and due to poor routine immunisation in eastern UP many children were left out.

This special campaign was earlier planned for February. But the present stock of vaccine could not be used following reluctance from the state government to use the stock which was nearing its expiry.

According to a source in the state health department,the state government has agreed to use the same vaccine now,as the Central government has assured to take the responsibility of the vaccine and has also assured that the vaccine is in “usable stage”.

Despite agreeing to use this stock,Uttar Pradesh will not be able to conduct the special JE vaccination in the entire two high-risk divisions of eastern UP — Basti and Gorakhpur — as planned. Reason: the present stock available with Central government is merely around 27 lakh doses (about 3 million doses) but the special campaign in seven districts require about 11 million doses.

As a way out,the Central and the state governments are now busy finding out higher risk blocks in the high-risk district under Gorakhpur and Basti division. The work for identification of these high-risk blocks is near completion as the special campaign is to begin from May 31.

“We will use whatever stock we receive from the Central government and start the campaign. The present stock is not sufficient,” said Health Minister Anant Mishra. Asked about how the vaccine is now being used by the state,Mishra said: “The Central government has assured us about the safety of the vaccine.”

According to sources,around four blocks in each of the seven districts — Gorakhpur,Kushinagar,Deoria,Sant Kabir Nagar,Basti and Maharajganj — have been identified for the purpose as per the present stock.