The Health Department in association with the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP), Kerala, and the district unit of the National Health Mission (NHM) will take up the plan for achieving 100% immunisation with the District Collector on Monday.
The ‘Immunise Kochi’ plan was formulated in the wake of eight positive diphtheria cases and 39 suspected cases being reported in the district.
The district task force is also expected to discuss the implementation of the Measles-Ruebella vaccine under NHM.
Diseases that were successfully eradicated through vaccinations around 30 years ago are making a comeback, hitting the State’s enviable health status, according to IAP representatives.
IAP State president M.N. Venkiteswaran demanded that the government take action against the “anti-vaccine propaganda” as such activities were against the public health policy.
“The IAP had proposed immunisation cards for admission to schools. While the government had in-principle agreed to the concept, there has been no move to implement the scheme,” he said.
“Those who skip vaccinations for children are exposing them to deadly diseases, impinging their right to live and, in turn, endangering the population as air-borne microbes can easily cause infection in partially-immunised children and even adults with low immunity,” Dr. Venkiteswaran added.
It is appalling that the district, which had earned the ‘Baby-Friendly’ tag at the national level, had children dying due to diseases that could be prevented, he said.