Kutch Area Runs Out Of BCG Vaccine |
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Written by OJ Fagbire
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Wednesday, 09 May 2007 |
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Many newborns have recently been unable to be vaccinated against tuberculosis with a crucial injection called BCG. The BCG vaccine is in such short supply and not being supplied through the regular government supply channels as usual. Many individuals around the border district of Kutch rely on this government supply of vaccine because they have no other way to afford it.
Typically this vaccine is given to the child within 7 days of birth to prevent them from getting TB as well as guarding the child against leprosy. The damp, sandy atmosphere makes people highly susceptible to getting TB, and newborns are easier to catch this disease.
"Last week, we could not give this vaccine to neonates as we did not get our supply from the government hospital at Adipur. We were told that no stock of the vaccine was available with them as also at the vaccine chest of the CDHO's office," says Dr. Rajesh Jeswani, Gandhidham-based child specialist.
This particular area has a low cure rate for TB and Leprosy according to a special study by the Revised National TB Control Programme. It is still undetermined why this vaccine that is readily supplied to this area, is unavailable.
Source: Express News Service, India
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