HP tops in kids’ immunisation

Himachal Pradesh Economy

Himachal Pradesh has logged the highest full immunisation coverage (89.3 per cent), according to the fifth National Family Health Survey. It has registered an impressive jump of 20 per cent from the last survey in 2016-17.
The full immunisation coverage is measured on the basis of the number of children, aged 12 to 23 months, administered a complete set of vaccines, as per the universal immunisation programme.
The huge improvement had happened because of the adoption of technological intervention for planning and implementation, increased awareness and diligent functioning and supervision by field-level officers.
The increase in immunisation led to a substantial fall in the under-five mortality rate and the infant mortality rate, which have come down to 23 and 19, respectively, as per the SRS 2018 data.
The state had also been removed from the list of states where Mission Indradhanush, based on the gaps identified in immunisation, was required to be carried out.
29 states and Union Territories figured on the list and Himachal was one of the four states where no gap had emerged in immunisation due to the Covid pandemic.
The state had improved on most counts in the National Family Health Survey-5. For instance, institutional births had improved from 76.4 per cent to 88.2 per cent.