Regular vaccination against typhoid

The typhoid vaccine will be included in the regular vaccination service from now on. Following the nationwide vaccination campaign from Friday, every 15-month-old child will be able to get one dose of vaccine through a regular vaccination program. The typhoid vaccine will be the 13th vaccine to be added to the 12 types of vaccines previously given to children from birth to 15 months. Suraj Gurau, Head of the Health Office, said that children would be vaccinated against measles and rubella with the second dose. 

"Children under the age of 15 months to 15 years are vaccinated in the campaign. After that, every 15-month-old child will be vaccinated against typhoid under regular vaccination,” he said. "As the rate of typhoid in children is 11 times higher than in others, the government is launching a vaccination campaign targeting the same age group", he added. The typhoid infection rate is high in Nepal. According to a study, 1,062 people per million were infected in Nepal.

According to him, 6,960 typhoid patients were found in Baglung district alone in the last fiscal year. According to the report of the health office, five percent of the people admitted to the OPD of the health institution here are suffering from typhoid. According to the office, typhoid is the second most contagious disease caused by contaminated water and food. 

Two years ago, the National Vaccine Advisory Committee recommended to the government that the typhoid vaccine be included in the regular vaccination service. Ram Prasad Khanal, Public Health Inspector of Baglung Municipality,  said that the campaign for sanitation and promotion at the community level should be brought along with the vaccination. "Typhoid is a problem for public health. If hygiene and vigilance are adopted along with vaccination, the disease will be reduced," said Khanal. 

According to Raju Khatri, Immunization Supervisor at the health office, the effectiveness of typhoid vaccine, which is certified by the World Health Organization, is up to 97 percent. According to him, 71,362 children will be vaccinated against typhoid in two phases under the campaign. 320 vaccination centers have been identified to conduct vaccination campaign in Baglung, Galkot, Jamini Municipality, Kathekhola, Bareng, and Tarakhola villages from April 8 to 13, Dhorpatan Municipality from April 15 to 20, Badigad, Nisikhola, and Tamankhola village municipalities. According to the office, 370 health workers and 1,280 volunteers will be mobilized in the campaign.

People who had severe reactions due to any other vaccines, or are severely allergic to certain foods or substances should not get vaccinated against typhoid. People with symptoms AIDS symptoms should also not be vaccinated against typhoid, the office said. The typhoid conjugate vaccine introduced to children in Nepal is a vaccine recommended by the World Health Organization and used in many countries around the world. The vaccine is said to be safe and effective. The department has urged the parents to go to the nearest immunization center and vaccinate their children as there are no other side effects such as redness, swelling, pain, fever, headache, hand, knee, and joint pain.