World Immunization Week is observed every year in the last week of April. This Year it is being observed from 24th April to 30th April 2023 all over Himachal Pradesh as “The Big Catch-Up”. The concept of this week is to vaccinate every eligible child and pregnant women against vaccine preventable diseases and catch up any missed vaccination.
Himachal Pradesh, under UIP, provides vaccine for 11 preventable diseases for children up to the age group of 16 years and pregnant women. Various activities of IEC and vaccination camps are undertaken across state to educate the masses and catch up any missed vaccination with special attention to the High Risk Areas(Slums, migratory populations, labor camps and temporary settlements).
Up-till 28th April 2023 around 600 children have been vaccinated all over the State various vaccination sessions organized by the Health Department.
Himachal Pradesh has a estimated birth cohort of about 1 lakh children and 1.2lakh pregnant women who are vaccinated through the 390 cold chain points and44000 vaccinations sessions in a year.
This year the focus is also on the Measles and Rubella elimination as per the GoIdirective and the State has extensively started the measles and rubella vaccination and surveillance all over the State.
Himachal Pradesh has achieved 90 percent of the Full immunization coverage in 2022-23 and has achieved 100 percent with the First and Second doses of Covid vaccination and 41 percent with the precautionary doses of Covid vaccinated against the National average of 27 percent.
