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A vaccine is a preparation used to prevent a particular disease by triggering an immune response to the disease without actually suffering from the disease. Step-by-step protection against childhood infection is vital for a healthy life. Side effects of vaccination, in general, are fever, pain, and swelling at the site of injection, and mild rashes. Some severe but occasional side effects may be crying, fits, abscess at the injection site, anaphylactic reaction, meningitis, BCG lymphadenitis. Contraindications include: severe adverse reaction to the previous dose of vaccination (such as seizures, hypotonic hypo responsive episode, incessant crying), progressive neurological disease (DPT), immunodeficiency stat, HIV, recent history of immunoglobulin transfusion (live vaccines: BCG.OPV, JE), egg allergy (mumps, influenza, yellow fever); and neomycin allergy (MMR, varicella, IPV).
The government’s National Immunization Program is a top-priority program that was launched as “Expanded Program on Immunization” in 2034 BS. It has succeeded in reducing the under-5 mortality goal (MDG 4) by reducing child mortality, morbidity, and disability associated with vaccine preventable diseases. This program currently provides 11 antigens through more than 16,000 outreach sessions nationwide, and its new initiative of “Reaching Every Child” in 2012 has resulted in 18 districts and more than 1800 VDCs becoming fully immunized, so far. Nepal is polio free since 2010, and efforts are on towards measles elimination and control of rubella /congenital rubella syndrome. Children from under 5 years and pregnant women can benefit from the following vaccines as per the immunization schedule.
Ref: Nepal Government MOH, https://www.mohp.gov.np/eng/program/child-health-services/nip
