The civic body of Navi Mumbai, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has started the universal vaccination program under which pregnant mothers, newborns and children are being vaccinated.
Under the universal vaccination program, the first dose of the measles-rubella vaccine is being given to a child who has completed nine months and the second dose of the measles-rubella vaccine is being given to a child who has completed 16 months. The measles-rubella vaccine protects a child from pneumonia and its complications/death. Similarly, the NMMC is reportedly planning to give the influenza vaccine to children and a universal vaccination campaign for influenza will be implemented in the municipal area for the same.
External vaccination sessions are being conducted at various places like 23 civic primary health centres, schools, anganwadis, private clinics, society offices, municipal hospitals etc. Apart from this, mobile sessions have also been organized in places like quarries, constructions, sparse slums. Moreover, a total of 469 sessions including 301 external contact sessions, 139 permanent sessions and 30 mobile sessions are being conducted every month in the municipal area.
Meanwhile, the third wave of the coronavirus is reportedly to affect children more. In view of the situation, Municipal Commissioner Abhijeet Bangar has appealed to parents to protect their children up to two years of age by giving first and second doses according to their age in order to protect them from pneumonia.
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