The Jharkhand Government is going to conduct a vaccination drive to protect children against the monsoon epidemic. A letter in this regard was issued by state immunization officer Dr Ajit Prasad, directing the civil surgeons as well as reproductive and child health officials to ensure that vaccination JE-1 and JE -2 should be taken up on priority but still 17 districts failed to complete their vaccination target during January and February because of the ongoing health crisis. Although some states started the vaccination but some couldn’t meet their respective targets.
JE is more likely to spread in rural areas and at places like stagnant water or paddy fields which are considered high-risk areas for JE. The infection can spread from animals, including birds. Keep kids away from pig farms as well as paddy fields because this disease infects kids below three years with a weak immunity.
The health officials said to administer two doses among the children – “first when the child is aged between nine to 12 months and the second when he/she is between 12 -24 months.”
