The Telangana State (TS) government has inducted pentavalent vaccine into its immunization programme for children in the state. Commemorating Children’s day on 14th November, Chief Minister of Telangana, K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) launched the vaccine for the first time in the government immunization programme.

Unlike the earlier vaccines, the 5-in-1 pentavalent vaccine will not only help children to get immunized against diphtheria and tetanus, but it will also help prevent other infections like Pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis-B (white Jaundice) and bacterial meningitis and pneumonia caused by haemophilus influenza type b bacteria (HIB).

According to healthcare experts, HIB accounts for 40 per cent of meningitis and more than 20 per cent pneumonia cases in children. HIB also contributes to 2 per cent of total mortality in children below 5 years of age. India has annually, 312,000 cases and a death toll of over 72,000 due to HIB in children.

The pentavalent vaccine is being supplied by UNICEF to India and is supported by GAVI. Now Hyderabad based Biological E limited (BE), the first leading manufacturer of vaccines in south India has taken the initiative to supply the vaccine to the National immunization programme in Telangana. According to company sources, BE’s pentavalent vaccine has received pre-qualifications from the World Health Organization (WHO) and already more than 100 million doses of this vaccine have been administered to children around the world till date.

Mahima Datla, managing director of BE Limited said, “Thousands of children in Telangana are exposed to the risk of deadly vaccine preventable diseases. Availability of this vaccine in Telangana will protect children from 5 deadly diseases diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B and meningitis and pneumonia caused by HIB. The Telangana Government’s endeavor to increase health access to underprivileged children and make this vaccine available free of cost to all children through immunization programme is greatly commendable.”