Two Additional Vaccines Added To National Immunisation Schedule

Two new vaccines, the pneumococcal vaccine and the rotavirus vaccine, have now been incorporated into the routine national programme. 

The pneumococcal vaccine provides protection against pneumonia and meningitis, while the rotavirus vaccine helps prevent diarrhoea and frequent vomiting. Both vaccines will be administered to children at two, four and six months of age.

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According to the Immunisation Programme, the two vaccines will be introduced nationally from 10 December. They were previously available only through private healthcare providers as optional vaccines. With their inclusion in the national schedule, the vaccines will now be administered in the same manner as all routine childhood vaccinations.

The Health Ministry has stated that the vaccines will be available free of charge at vaccination centres, as they are now covered under Aasandha following their official addition to the national programme.