The ongoing outbreak of measles in Nepalgunj Sub-metropolitan City has highlighted the importance of conducting immunizations programs in Nepal in order to save the lives of many, especially the young ones.
The National Immunization Program has a significant role in reducing the death of children under five years in Nepal. The vaccines mandated by the NIP program are shown in the table.
| Vaccines | Age | Disease Prevention |
| BCG (Bacillus Calmette Guerin) | At birth (1 dose)
| Tuberculosis |
| Pentavalent Vaccine (Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B and Hemophilus influenza B)
| 6, 10 and 14 weeks (3 doses)
| Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B and Hemophilus Influenza B |
| OPV (Oral Polio Vaccine)
| 6, 10 and 14 weeks (3 doses)
| Polio
|
| PCV (Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine)
| 6, 10 weeks and 9 months (3 doses)
| Pneumococcal diseases (Meninges, ear and chest infections)
|
| Rotavirus Vaccine
| 6, 10 weeks (2 doses) | Rotavirus diarrhea
|
| Fipv (Fractional Injectable Polio Vaccine)
| Child under 1 year (14 weeks and 9 months, 2 doses)
Child under 5 years (Missed dose): 2 doses should be separated by 8 weeks | Polio
|
| MR (Measles – Rubella)
| 9 and 15 months (2 doses)
| Measles and Rubella
|
| JE (Japanese Encephalitis)
| 12 months (1 dose)
| Japanese Encephalitis
|
| Typhoid Vaccine | 15 months (1 dose) | Typhoid
|
| Td
| Pregnant women: 2 doses of Td one month apart in first pregnancy, and 1 dose in each subsequent pregnancy
| Tetanus |
According to the preliminary finding of the Nepal Demographic Survey as of 2022, 80 percent of children under five are fully vaccinated in Nepal. However, according to United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a decline in childhood vaccination. UNICEF is working with JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI) and Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences to help strengthen the capacity of partners to use behavioral science approaches to design and implement behaviorally informed interventions for immunization in Nepal.
Besides the national routine immunization program, the COVID-19 vaccination program introduced in January 2021, has made significant progress in the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. 82 percent of the total population has been injected with COVID- 19 vaccines. However only 38 percent of people above twelve years are injected with booster doses of COVID-19 vaccination as per the MoHP. Since the COVID-19 pandemic is not over yet, MoHP has highlighted the need to increase the booster dose injected population. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine rollout initiative is also going on in Nepal to prevent cervical cancer in women.
Yet, according to the UNICEF, there are many pre-existing challenges to immunization in Nepal, including low awareness amongst people about the urgency of full immunization.
Inadequate human resources and poor recording and reporting system has been a major hurdle for Nepal’s immunization programs. Besides, inadequate vaccine store capacity, waste management, ownership, and coordination are the major challenges of the national vaccination program as mentioned in the recent report of the Department of Health Service. On the matter, national public health expert, Radhika Ghimire says, “Community engagement, continued investment and improvement in data management systems are key to the success of the routine national vaccination program and COVID-19 vaccination in Nepal.”
READ ALSO:
_E1649926165_1024.jpg)
