Vaccination Policy for Japanese Encephalitis in India: Tread with Caution!
Live attenuated SA-14-14-2 vaccine against Japanese encephalitis (JE) was introduced in the routine immunization under Universal Immunization Program in the 181 endemic districts of India. Recently, the Government of India has announced the introduction of one dose of JE vaccine for adults in endemic districts. The policy to mass vaccinate adults has raised several concerns that are discussed in this write-up. Apart from adult vaccination, the continuation of large scale JE vaccination program despite it being a very focal problem, and continued neglect of some other serious public health illnesses have also been highlighted. The issue of lack of authentic data on effectiveness of currently employed SA-14-14-2 JE vaccine has also been discussed.
Mangla Hospital and Research Center, Bijnor; and *University College of Medical Sciences, New Delhi; India. Correspondence to: Dr Vipin M Vashishtha, Consultant Pediatrician, Mangla Hospital and Research Center, Shakti Chowk, Bijnor, UP 246 701, India. vipinipsita@gmail.com.
Vipin M
VM
Vashishtha
V G
VG
Ramachandran
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004672:Encephalitis, Japanese / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D022321:Japanese Encephalitis Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D032541:Mass Vaccination; D008875:Middle Aged; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
D022321:Japanese Encephalitis Vaccines; C000607270:SA-14-14-2 vaccine; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated