The Directorate of Family Welfare, MCH & Immunization Department of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has achieved many milestones by successfully launching various vaccination programmes and making them a success. The various immunization interventions being made have proven to be a success and recorded a positive impact in preventing sickness, deaths associated with infectious diseases.
With its untiring efforts, the health department of UT of J&K has managed to stand at number three position in the country in full immunization coverage with 96% after Kerala and Tamilnadu.
During 2019–2020, the Directorate of Family Welfare, MCH & Immunization Department has vaccinated 217984 children (0-1 year age) out of the total target of 227474.
The left out children would be now covered under Intensified Mission Indradhanush 2.0 (IMI) for which Baramulla and Kupwara districts have been chosen by the department. Through this programme, Government of India aims to reach each and every child up to two years of age and all those pregnant women who have been left uncovered (Left outs & Drop Outs) under the routine immunization programme/UIP.
In 2018-19, the Directorate had launched and successfully completed the vaccination campaign against measles, a major childhood killer disease, and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), responsible for irreversible birth defects.
During the Measles-Rubella vaccination campaign, around 38 lakh children from the age group of 9 months to 15 years were vaccinated in record 2 and half month with 100% achievement.
Mission Indradhanush, Gram Swaraj Mission Indradhanush, Mission Indradhanush for aspiration districts Baramulla and Kupwara were also held with 100% achievement.
Td (Tetanus-Diphtheria) was introduced throughout the state in the 2018-19 and is now part of UT’s UIP schedule. Besides, Rota Virus Vaccine was also introduced in the Union Territory of J&K by Directorate of Family Welfare, MCH & Immunization Department this year which will help to avert 40% deaths due to diarrheal diseases. The Rota Virus Vaccination programme will cover over two lakh and twenty thousand children annually.
Under a new initiative by the Directorate of Family Welfare, MCH & Immunization Department, around 40000 Govt employees of health department will be vaccinated with Hepatitis B Vaccine and that too will be given free of cost.
The Health department has signed an MOU with United Nations Development Programme-India (UNDP) to introduce very unique software called e-VIN in the Union Territory of J&K. The Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network- eVIN is an innovative technological solution aimed at strengthening immunization supply chain systems.