Rajasthan full vaccine coverage jumps from 54% to 80% in 5 years

JAIPUR: In the state, full immunization coverage of children from 12-23 months has increased from 54.8% to 80.4% in the last five years. This was confirmed after comparing the figures of National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-4 (2015-16) with the recently released NFHS-5 (2019-21).
Twenty-seven districts are such which have immunization coverage between 70% and 90%. Barmer, Dausa and Pali top the list with more than 90% coverage. In Barmer, which is at the top of the list, it has increased from 36% to 92.9% in five years.

According to health officials, Alwar, Bharatpur and Sawai Madhopur have the highest hesitancy against vaccination due to myths. Alwar, Bharatpur and Sawai Madhopur are lagging in routine immunization of children with less than 70% achievement.
"In these three districts, we have faced the highest hesitancy to vaccinate. Also, there was some shortage of human resources. We are addressing all the issues to increase the coverage," said Dr KL Meena, director, family welfare, health department.
Dr Meena said, "Across the state the coverage has increased significantly as monitoring and management in immunization has improved."
A child is said to be fully immunized if the child receives all due vaccines as per national immunization schedule within 1st year of birth, as per Universal Immunization Programme (UIP).
"In BCG, OPV-3, DPT-3 and measles/MR vaccination, the state has improved a lot. The coverage of all the vaccines has crossed 80%. In the state, 20 districts are such, which have more than 80% of fully vaccinated children," said Dr Raghuraj Singh, project director (immunization), health department.
Comparing (NFHS)-4 (2015-16) with the recently released NFHS-5 (2019-21), the fully vaccination coverage has increased marginally in all the three districts at the bottom in the list, including Alwar from 47.4% to 59.4%, in Sawai Madhopur, it has increased from 46% to 54.9%.