Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government proposes to expand vaccine coverage across the country in 2017;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the vaccines will be introduced in the States in a phased manner; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)
(a) & (b): Yes, the government plans to expand vaccine coverage across the country in 2017 and has launched Mission Indradhanush in December 2014 to rapidly increase the full immunization coverage of children to 90% and sustain the same by 2020.
(c) & (d): Yes, introduction of new vaccines in Universal Immunization Programme is done in a phased manner. Pentavalent vaccine was introduced in December 2011 and was expanded throughout the country by December 2015. Similarly Inactivated Polio vaccine was launched in November 2015 and was expanded across the country by June 2016. Further, Rotavirus vaccine was launched on 26th March 2016 and is currently is being provided in four states namely Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Odisha as part of phase-wise introduction.
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