AGARTALA, May 19 (TIWN): Amid the COVID-19 pandemic the Health Department of Tripura today launched a Pneumococcal vaccination program for the children in the state. The parents of the children actively participated in the drive at IGM Hospital and welcomed the initiative supported by the Government of India under the universal immunization program.

Addressing the media, Dr. Dilip Das conveyed, “Universal Immunisation Program (UIP) is one of the largest public health programs and this new pneumococcus vaccine has been included in this program. Children are administered 10 types of vaccines through this program. One more vaccine has been added now to protect the children from pneumonia, which kills approx 1.5 crore children every year in the country. The doses are given at different time intervals. The first dose is administered to the children after 6 weeks of their birth. The second dose can be pushed after 14 weeks followed by the third dose after 9 months."

 “Introducing this vaccine is a major development in the state and a great initiative by the GOI. We appeal to all the parents of the children to come forward for this vaccination program”, the doctor asserted.