Rotavirus Vaccine Shortage Hits Palamu Division: Infant Health at Risk

Daltonganj: Govt health facilities across the three districts of Palamu division — Palamu, Garhwa and Latehar — have been without the life-saving Rotavirus vaccine since April this year, sources said. The vaccine, crucial in preventing severe infant dehydration and diarrhoea, is currently unavailable across the division.Dr S K Ravi, head of the regional vaccine cold chain in Daltonganj and Palamu district reproductive child health officer (DRCHO) confirmed the shortage. “The regional vaccine cold chain in Daltonganj received 10,800 doses of Rotavirus vaccine in April this year,” Ravi said. He further said the stock was then distributed across the three districts.The Daltonganj cold chain supplies Rotavirus and other vaccines to the govt health facilities across the division, including district hospitals, referral hospitals, sub-divisional hospitals and community health centres. Sources claimed the April consignment was small for the needs of the districts. One vial contains only two doses, meaning a single vial can cover just two infants up to 1 year of age at a time.Rotavirus vaccine supplies are routed from the state health department in Ranchi. “It is more than a month since we received Rotavirus vaccine from the state health department in Ranchi. We have reported this serious matter to the concerned officers,” Ravi said.Garhwa civil surgeon Dr John F Kennedy said, “A kid up to 1 year is to get 3 doses of the vaccine. We are looking forward to the arrival of the consignment of the vaccines here through the Daltonganj -based regional vaccine cold chain if and when it gets doses of it from Ranchi.”The vaccine, crucial in preventing severe infant dehydration and diarrhoea, is currently unavailable across the division