Nagaland along with the rest of the country conducted the First Round of Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI 5.0) from 7-12 August 2023. The objective of IMI 5.0 is to identify all children up to 5 years for missed doses, register them on U-WIN and vaccinate them in specially planned IMI sessions. The Round 2 is scheduled for 11-16 September 2023 and Round 3 from 9-14 October 2023.
In the Round 1 of IMI 5.0, the State could achieve 81% coverage for 0-2 years age group, 92% coverage in 2-5 years age group and 86% coverage for identified pregnant women (as per State coverage data).
For the Round 2 of IMI (11-16 September 2023), the State has created 191 IMI sessions with a child target of 1187 (0-5 years) and 81 pregnant women. These are beneficiaries who are unvaccinated and partially vaccinated children and pregnant mothers who could not take up timely immunization. If some beneficiaries are missed during the headcount, there is the option for onsite registration for which an ID card will be required (Aadhaar card, PAN card, passport, driving license, service card, ration card or any government approved ID card).
Despite multiple visits to the household by the health care workers, the challenge of vaccine refusal still exists and it is a major hurdle in ensuring that no child is left behind for life saving vaccinations. With the upcoming Round 2 of IMI 5.0, the Department hopes that these caregivers will take up the opportunity to get their child/children fully protected from vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) like TB, Pneumonia, Diarrhoea, Polio, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Whooping cough), Tetanus, Hib, Hepatitis-B, Japanese Encephalitis, Measles & Rubella.
Caregivers/parents of children receiving vaccinations have to take note of the following important points:
· During each due date of the vaccination schedule, the child may receive multiple vaccinations. This can either be an injectable vaccine or oral dose vaccine.
· Different vaccine doses are introduced at different ages, hence, for a child who delays or misses out on a timely immunization schedule, the vaccine injection load might be more than for a child who takes timely immunization. Multiple injections are safe for the child to take up.
· An interruption in the schedule does not require a child to start the series over for any vaccines. Hence, the missed doses should be taken up at the earliest so that the child is kept protected from the VPDs
· The vaccine against TB called BCG (bacille Calmette–Guérin) vaccine is usually given during the first 6 weeks of a child’s life and will leave a small sore that heals quickly. Caregivers have the misconception that all the other subsequent vaccines will also cause similar discomfort and they drop their child out of the immunization schedule. But, caregivers should remember that discomfort, tenderness or soreness at the injection site is minor compared to the serious diseases that these vaccines can prevent.
· Some children get a slight fever or maybe redness or swelling at the injection site, but that is normal. Those reactions go away by themselves. If fever persists, caregivers should consult with the healthcare worker.
The community needs to know the importance of immunizing the child at the right age to ensure that the child receives full protection. The vaccines are available free of cost at all Government health facilities and that every unvaccinated or partially vaccinated child is at risk of life-threatening disease.
Only through support from the community can the immunization activities be sustained – we seek continued support from allied departments, Faith Based Organizations (FBOs) Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Village Council Chairperson, Women leaders and members of IMA, IAP, IDA, Rotary, Lions Club etc in ensuring that all children under 5 years of age in the family or community complete their dose during this special immunization sessions being organized in your area as part of IMI and to further maintain the timely immunization schedule through the regular Routine Immunization services in the Government health units.
Dr. Imkongtemsu Longchar
State Immunization Officer
Directorate of Health & Family Welfare
Kohima: Nagaland