India’s latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS) has brought encouraging news on child health. One of its highlights is the stupendous increase in number of children receiving vaccination against rotavirus.
According to NFHS-6, conducted in 2023-24, coverage of the rotavirus vaccine has risen from 36.4 per cent to 85.4 per cent, more than doubling within a few years. These numbers are reflective of a win achieved through better access to vaccination and increased awareness about preventive healthcare. Dr Shalini Tyagi, director, paediatric care, Medanta Noida, explains the real-world impact of this achievement.
What makes rotavirus dangerous?
Rotavirus is very contagious and one of the most common causes of severe loss of body fluids in infants and toddlers. It can spread easily through contaminated hands, surfaces, food and water.
Although diarrhoea is often thought of as routine in childhood, a rotavirus infection can be much more serious. It causes severe diarrhoea, vomiting, fever and dehydration, even resulting in hospitalisation or life-threatening conditions. Since infants and young children (especially those under the age of five) lose fluids very quickly, they are the most vulnerable.
What rising coverage means
NFHS-6 shows large increases in vaccine coverage, which illustrates both the success of India’s immunisation programme and parents’ acceptance of vaccines. More importantly, this means more children are being immunised in the most vulnerable years of their lives. Thus, fewer children will be hospitalised for severe diarrhoea and the burden on hospitals and paediatric healthcare sectors reduces.
The immunisation success story
The improvement in rotavirus vaccination coverage should be viewed alongside the broader gains in child immunisation, as reported by NFHS-6. Overall immunisation coverage among children has risen from 83.8 per cent to 87.1 per cent, and over 96 per cent of children aged 12-23 months have received at least one vaccination. The improvement in these numbers demonstrates a growing ability of the public health system in India to provide families with the necessary services to enhance their children’s preventive healthcare.
Benefits beyond health
The benefits of immunisation go well beyond the prevention of disease. When a child is admitted to hospital with severe diarrhoea, it can result in lost wages for parents, travel expenses, medical costs and emotional distress. Preventing such illnesses through vaccination reduces these financial burdens and emotional trauma for families, and helps to ensure that children continue to grow, learn and develop without being impaired due to illness.
The challenges
However, NFHS-6 findings should not lead to complacency. While coverage of 85.4 per cent is a significant accomplishment, it leaves many children without complete protection. The next challenge will be to ensure that all eligible children receive all recommended doses of rotavirus vaccine, regardless of where they live. The increase in coverage is thereby evidence not just of the success of the rotavirus vaccine, but of the ability to deliver preventive healthcare to millions of children if families, public health systems and healthcare providers work together.
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