Rajkot district administration distributed H1N1 vaccine to all medical and Para-medical staffs which is grounded by the state government in response to the epidemic caused recently. Saurashtra is said to be affected maximum with death of 4 out of 13 people.
Now the vaccine is available for staffs in all primary health institutions in villages and cities. The vaccine is just like influenza vaccine called pandemic vaccine and is proved safe. This pandemic vaccine contains adjuvant, a substance which helps in increasing its immune response and thus making it efficient. For elder people one dose of vaccine is sufficient while for children from 6 months to 9 years 2 doses is required which has to be given in 4 weeks extension.
While H1N1 vaccine first reached British, US and UK were waiting with their orders placed. Even china was making the vaccines with 20 companies even though these companies are not related to the field. Indian government is still sleeping and not yet pre -booked any order with any of the companies like GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis etc. Even though swine flu death is increasing Indian government authorities are not taking any fruitful steps.
A senior official of Rajkot district administration says that “The vaccine will protect the staffs for 9-11 months thus putting a halo around one and shielding the person”. Thus they can treat the H1N1 patients without any precautions or fear.
When the official was questioned about the availability of vaccine for common man he says “It all depends upon the government and it is not in their hands”. The officials have also created an awareness program like ‘Wash your hands with soap now and then and eat fruits containing Vitamin C’ since soap contains carbolic acid which will kill the virus while ascorbic acid in citrus fruits will help in giving immunisation.
Source : allindiatoday.com