Current strategy

Schedule The immunization schedule for infants recommended by the WHO Expanded Programme on Immunization AgeVaccines BirthBCG, OPV zero 6 weeksDPT-1, OPV-1 10 weeksDPT-2, OPV-2 14 weeksDPT-3, OPV-3 9 monthsMeasles

Schedule DoseWhen to Immunize TT-1At first contact or as early as possible during pregnancy ( including first trimester) TT-2At least 4 weeks after TT-1 TT-3At least 6 months after TT-2 TT-4At least one year after TT-3 TT-5At least one year after TT-4

Dose and method of administration. Vaccinedoseinjection site BCG infant dose 0.05cci.d Upper L. arm DPT0.5 cci.m Upper thigh OPV2 dropsoral measles0.5 ccs.c Upper R. arm TT0.5 ccimUpper arm

Target groups 1.Target age group for routine EPI services: –Infants below one year of age –TT targets :Women of Child Bearing Age ( CBA) and Pregnant women

Target groups 2.Target age group in areas, where EPI services have not been available during the past months or new areas: Children below 5 years of age to prevent building up the susceptible population critical for outbreaks Women of child bearing age and pregnant women

Target groups 3.Target age group for Polio eradication activities SubNIDs or NIDs: Children months of age 4.Target age group for outbreak response: -measles months of age -other outbreaks to be decided case by case based on the age of reported cases

Geographic coverage 1.Main emphasis on protecting the young children in areas of maximum risk for the transmission eg urban areas, IDP camps and other temporary settlements where large number of susceptible children come into contact with each other

Geographic coverage 2.Secondary target group, young children living along the main routes for transport-- along the roadside villages/ towns, near the watering points for the nomadic people 3.Only when the coverage is over 80% in the priority/ secondary areas, specific approaches for the small settlements and for the nomadic population to be started

Geographic coverage 4.In situations, where NGO has other regular activities addressing the needs of far flung villages, EPI activities can be included, if the visits are regular and the activities can be completed within the same time frame, e.g. specific programmes for nomadic populations

Measles 1998 strategy

Contra indications *Do not give DPT-2 or DPT-3 to a child who has had convulsions or shock within 3 days of the previous dose *Do not give BCG/ OPV vaccine to a child with clinical AIDS or immune depressed (kala azar etc) * Children with fever and Diarrhea can be vaccinated.

Contra indications *If a child is being admitted to a hospital, the decision to immunize is made by the admitting staff, the child can normally be immunized at the time of discharge *If a child is well enough to go home, the child can go home immunized