NSS VOLUNTEERS AND MASS IMMUNIZATION DR.PUNAM BANSAL GCE-20D,CHD (Talk delivered to college NSS volunteers)

How do immunizations

work? The human body's natural defence against infection is

called immunity. When we get an infection, our bodies

produce chemicals called antibodies to fight it. After an

infection we are usually immune to that virus or

bacterium and the immunity may last for life. However,

we can stimulate this immunity, without getting the full-

blown disease or infection, by using immunizations, also

called vaccinations.

What are the different types

of immunizations?

• Primary Immunisation- This starts right from

birth and continues for the first few years of

baby's life, building specific immunity to a

particular disease.

• Booster Immunisation- Booster doses are given

to enhance the effect of primary immunisation

• Mass Immunisation – This is done in order to

eradicate a certain disease completely.

Why is it so important to get child

immunised?

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If your child is immunised against a specific

illness, the chances of contracting that disease

are reduced to a great extent since your child’s

body has already made antibodies for it.

Mass immunisation of entire communities

reduces the chances of an epidemic, as most

people are immune to that disease. Immunisation

programmes have eradicated diseases, such as

smallpox and polio in some countries.

At Birth

BCG(Against Tuberculosis)

OPV (Against Polio)

BCG, OPV

HB (Against heptitis B)

6 weeks

OPV (first dose)

DPT (Triple vaccine against diphtheria, peruses and tetanus)

OPV (1st dose)

DPT (1st dose)

HB (2nd dose)

10 weeks

OPV ( second dose)

DPT (second dose)

OPV (2nd dose)

DPT(2nd Dose)

14 weeks

OPV (third dose)

DPT (third does)

OPV (3rd dose)

DPT (3rd dose)

6-9 months

----------------------

HB ( 3rd dose)

9 months

Measles

Measles

15-18 months

OPV (fourth dose)

DPT (fourth dose)

OPV (4th dose)

DPT (4th dose)

MMR (vaccine against Measles, Mumps and German Measles (rubella)

5 years

DT (5th dose) (only for diptheria and tetanus)

OPV (5th dose)

DPT (5th dose)

10 years

TT (against tetanus)

TT

HB

IDEAL IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULE FOR THE INFANTS

(Recommended by the Ministry of Health, Searchvt. of INDIA)

At 11/2 months

B.C.G. (injection)*

D.P.T. - 1 (injection) and

O.P.V. - 1 (dose)

At 21/2 months

D.P.T. - 2 (injection) and

O.P.V. - 2 (dose)

At 31/2 months

D.P.T. - 3 (injection) and

O.P.V. - 3 (dose)

At 9 months

Measles (injection)

16 to 24 months

D.P.T. Booster (injection) and

O.P.V. Booster (dose)

• Mass Immunisation

This is done in order to eradicate a certain

disease completely. Mass immunisation

programs are generally organised by the

government in the interest of a nation’s

health. The government is currently running

the Pulse Polio Programme in order to

provide mass immunity against polio.

safety during mass

immunization

Mass immunization campaigns pose specific safety

challenges, due to their objective of immunizing large

populations over a short period of time and often being

conducted outside the normal healthcare setting. Two of

the most notable challenges are injection safety and

adverse events following immunization (AEFI).

injection safety

the large number of injections to be

administered and the large volume of waste

generated pose added strains on the system.

Adverse events following

immunization (AEFI).

There might be the perception of increased rates

of AEFI. Reasons for this include the large

number of doses being given over a short period

of time and the administration of vaccine to a

wider, usually older,age group.

main elements in ensuring

immunization safety

•An assured source of safe vaccines, safe injection

supplies and other materials.

•Measures to ensure safety of vaccine administration.

•Measures to ensure safe sharps waste management.

•A system for AEFI monitoring and management.

•An advocacy and safety awareness strategy for the

public and health staff.

•A budget to ensure funding of all planned

components.

A Country could not progress in a

desired direction until the student youth

were motivated to work for the

upliftment of the villages/communities”.

NSS volunteers are not supposed to administer injections during immunisation programmes but mass mobilisation and awareness campaigns can be organised through NSS volunteer.

Role of NSS volunteers in mass immunization

What can NSS volunteer

do?

•Volunteers can collaborate with country partners in

National Immunization Days (NID) and in Sub-

National Immunization Days (SNID)

•Volunteers to do “house-to-house” education and

social mobilisation in the most vulnerable populations.

Volunteers can use the Red Cross/community-based

first aid approaches to ensure immunisation of

children and pregnant women.

• Volunteers can survey and report suspect cases of

diseases preventable by vaccination.

Words of advice

Campaign policies and strategies should be identified well in advance

of the campaign.

Practical, country-specific solutions for sharps waste management

should be identified and planned well in advance.

All supplies and materials should be ordered at least six months before

the campaign.

Roles and responsibilities for the campaign should be clearly stated

from the start and should include deadlines for completing all tasks.

All players and partners should be contacted to help disseminate safety

awareness messages.

Regular monitoring throughout the campaign, followed by a final

evaluation should be conducted so as to identify successes, problems and

lessons