Jayani Asks Health Officials To Ensure Safe Administration Of Pentavalent Vaccine

Chandigarh, April 28, 2015: The Punjab Health Minister Punjab Surjit Kumar Jayani has directed all the civil surgeons to ensure all possible safety measures while administering the Pentavalent Vaccine to the infants.

In a statement issued here today, the Minister asked the health officials to check the expiry date and other details of the stock lying with the department to avoid any mishap. The Minister said that the Punjab government had launched Pentavalent vaccine that was being administered free of cost to the infants within three months of their birth in all the government hospitals and dispensaries. He said that under the Universal Immunization Program of the central government, this vaccine has played a key role in protection against dangerous childhood diseases. The vaccine, he said, would substantially reduce infant and under-five child mortality rate in Punjab. This vaccine would protect children against diptheria, pertusssis, hepatitis B, tetanus and haemophilus influenzae B. Terming the vaccine as one of the most cost-effective public health interventions, which has delivered excellent results in providing direct and effective protection against preventable childhood diseases such as measles, hepatitis B, diptheria, poliomyelitis, tetanus and pertusssis.

He has asked the civil surgeons to maintain the cold chain at a specific temperature required for storing the medicines especially the vaccines. He also said that if it is to be carried from one place to another it should be carried with iced packs.

He appealed to the people of the state not to buy the vaccine from the medical stores as Punjab gets the direct supply from the government of India under various health care schemes initiated by the Union government. Adding further, he informed that Sensitization Workshops of health officials, para-medical staff and others concerned have been organized across the state to promote good health and hygiene and educate the masses.