Hubballi: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai launched the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for infants as part of the state’s Universal Immunisation Programme at the Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) Hospital on Friday.
During the state-wide launch, the chief minister said that the vaccine protects children. They are the assets of our country, and the vaccine would protect them from the harmful disease caused by pneumococcus.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr K Sudhakar said that the vaccine is available free under the universal immunisation scheme. The vaccine prevents pneumonia in under five-year-old children, he said.
The health department officials said that the vaccine would be given to children at the ages of one and a half months, three and a half months, and nine months. For complete protection, children should get all three doses, the doctors said.
Chairman of Legislative Council Basavaraj Horatti, District In-Charge Minister Shankar Patil Munenkoppa, Deputy Commissioner Nitesh Patil, KIMS Director Dr Ramalingappa Antartani, KIMS Medical Superintendent Dr Arunkumar C and others were present.
