Kozhikode: At least 2,406 children under 18 in the orphanages of Malappuram are not immunised. A survey by social justice (SJ) department covering 130 orphanages revealed that 1,652 children had taken complete immunisation, 1073 partially immunised, 174 did not take any immunisation, and the status of 1,159 children is not known.
As the health department considers partially immunised and ‘status not known’ under the section of non-immunized, all the 2,406 children fall in this category.
“A special drive for the non-immunized children of orphanages should start soon,” said deputy district medical officer, Dr A. Shibu Lal.
A good number of children who fall under the ‘immunisation status not known’ category are from other states.
Statistics speak
“The compiled data is a comprehensive one with how many girls and boys are immunised and all details about the specific orphanage,” said district child protection officer, Samir Machingal.
Authorities are focusing on orphanages as the two deaths due to diphtheria were reported from orphanages in 2015.
“During our inspection at an orphanage in Vettathur last year, it was found that only 30 percent of the children were vaccinated,” said Dr Shibu Lal. According to the district health office, as many as 1,32, OOO children under-5 were non-vaccinated or partially vaccinated in the district. After launching special drives and campaigns, more than 15,000 children were given Td vaccine.
