Govt proposes to introduce Inactivated Polio Vaccine in its immunisation programme

New Delhi: The government proposes to introduce injectable Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) in its ongoing Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) simultaneously with the existing oral vaccine, Lok Sabha was informed on Friday.

As part of the polio endgame strategy, IPV is to be given as an additional dose at 14th week along with DPT3 and Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV3), Health Minister J P Nadda said in a written reply.

"Government proposes to introduce injectable Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) in its ongoing Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) simultaneously with the existing Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) under the UIP," he said. He said the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) has made this recommendation in its meeting held on June 12 last year.

Replying to another question, Nadda said that the government has drawn up an action plan to tap digital platforms in order to disseminate information and create maximum awareness about government health initiatives.

"The media plan of Health Ministry recognises that one of the means of creating awareness and dissemination of information is social media. Presently the ministry is disseminating information about health initiatives through Twitter and Youtube with regular upgradation," he said.

He said that the recent initiatives taken by the ministry for digital information includes placement of digital advertising related to some health campaigns through directorate of advertising and visual publicity on digital forums as per DAVP rates.

"Though no estimates are available for assessing the exact number of beneficiary, it is an established fact that the digital communication in addition to print and electronic media, enables the health communication to reach out to a substantial number of citizens who have digital connectivity," Nadda said.