LAHORE - Punjab is all set to introduce rotavirus vaccine in routine immunization this November with the financial assistance of Global Alliance for Vaccination and Immunization (GAVI).

The Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) will submit plans relating to five important segments for improvement of vaccination mechanism to the GAVI mission in the coming week that will kick start the process of vaccine procurement.

“GAVI has sought plans for communication, training, cold chain maintenance, supply and logistics and reporting. We have already completed the necessary paperwork. Hopefully, the plans will be submitted latest by coming Wednesday. This will pave way for initiation of procurement of rotavirus vaccine next month. It will require another three months for inclusion of the said vaccine in routine immunization. As such, rotavirus will be part of EPI this November,” said an official at health department.

“First dose will be given with Penta-1 at the age of six weeks and the second one with Penta-2 at 10 weeks,” he said.

According to him, Punjab will be the first province to introduce rotavirus in routine immunization. “More than 3.5 million children are vaccinated every month. As such 42 million children will be vaccinated against rotavirus along with other vaccine preventable diseases in one year,” he added.

According to the official, the inclusion of rotavirus in routine immunization was delayed due lack of capacity of existing system especially cold chain and staff training and unavailability of funds for such a costly vaccine.

“Now the system is upgraded to the required level. Punjab will get Rs72 billion from the federal government as share from the GAVI funding in next five years. Major chunk of the amount will be utilised for vaccine procurement. Pnumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV10) is already part of routine immunization. PCV10 against pneumonia is the most costly vaccine followed by rotavirus. GAVI funding will help inclusion of the vaccine and sustainability of routine immunization,” he added.

More than 4,500 children below five years age died of diarrhoea in Punjab every year. About 40-45 percent of the diarrhoea related deaths are caused by Rotavirus. The vaccine is effective in preventing rotavirus gastroenteritis and the accompanying diarrhoea and other complications.

Inclusion of rotavirus vaccine in routine immunization will help decreasing diarrhoea related deaths by 40-45 percent, said leading family physician Dr Abdul Rauf.

Rotavirus disease is common in infants and young children. Symptoms are severe watery diarrhoea, often with vomiting, fever, and abdominal pain. Vomiting and watery diarrhoea can last from 3 to 8 days. Additional symptoms include loss of appetite and dehydration (loss of body fluids). Infected children shed rotavirus in their faeces.

Rotavirus can spread by contaminated hands, objects like toys, surfaces, food and water mostly in the winter and spring. Good hygiene (hand washing) and cleanliness are important but are not enough to control the spread of the disease, Dr Rauf added.