Source: The Indian Express
In the last 1.5 years, the pandemic has intensely disrupted our lives, leading to extraordinary challenges to public health at large. However, Covid-19 has taught us a lesson that cannot be forgotten. It has underlined the importance of protecting against vaccine-avertible diseases through timely vaccination. Vaccines are a long-term health investment that can provide high returns in the form of improved immunity and protection against infections if taken at the right time. The delay of a vaccine dose may impact the timeline of the following doses, making children vulnerable (especially babies under one year) to diseases which they would be protected from if the primary vaccination is given on time.
The set of primary vaccines such as diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, poliomyelitis and H. influenzae Type B vaccine scheduled at 6-week, 10-week and 14-week of life are important and need to be given as soon as possible.
Similarly, the measles vaccine scheduled at 9 months of age needs to be given as early as possible. It is also advisable to administer the latest strain of influenza vaccine at appropriate time for children, adults, and healthcare workers to protect them against influenza.
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