Kerala: Plans soon to tackle anti-vaccine lobby

Kozhikode: In the wake of  two diphtheria deaths reported from  Malappuram,  the Directorate of Health Service has convened a two-day meeting of all 14 RCH (reproductive and child health) officers in Thiruvananthapuram on June 28  to chalk out plans to take on the anti-vaccination lobby.   “An action plan is ready to take forward the immunisation programme. The focus will be on the special drive to be carried out in the most resistant areas of Malappuram,” said Dr.  G. Sunilkumar, additional DHS (family welfare).

He added that the Malappuram-centric campaign would be extended to the other Malabar districts of  Kozhikode, Wayanad,  Kannur and Palakkad, which face  stiff resistance to vaccination. Last year also, a special drive was launched in Malappuram after diphtheria cases were reported but had faced fierce opposition.

Close to 21,000 children under the age of five are out of the vaccination drive in the four districts.  They include  those which took the vaccine partially and those who have not taken it even once. In Kozhikode more than 16,000 children are out of coverage.

The resistance is in Kuttiady, Vanimel, Nadapuram, Koduvally and Punoor areas. According to Kannur district RCH (reproductive and child health) officer, Dr P.M Jyothi, close to 3,000 children have not taken  vaccination in the district. Valapattanam, Mayyil, Narath and  Puzhathi areas are notorious for resistance to vaccination.

In Wayanad, around 1200 children are not vaccinated.  They include  70 kids who did not take it even once. “The partially vaccinated meant the child has taken BCG vaccine at the time of birth in the hospital,” says district RCH officer Dr V. Jithesh. Kamabalakkad, Vellamunda, Peechamkode and  Rippon areas show vaccine resistance.