Nepal Government Declares Baisakh as Immunization Month

Nepal Health News, Kathmandu: The Government of Nepal has declared the month of Baisakh (mid-April to mid-May) as Immunization Month. The Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services announced that it will be observed to promote vaccination awareness and coverage.

The government has been administering vaccines according to a national immunization schedule to protect children from various infectious diseases from birth to 15 months of age. Children are given 13 vaccines in 7 sessions during this period.

Pediatric specialist Dr. Kalpana Upadhyay Subedi has urged parents to ensure that their children receive any missed vaccines during this campaign. She emphasized that no child is safe until all children are vaccinated, urging communities to help coordinate vaccinations for any unvaccinated children in their neighborhood.

Vaccines to Be Given by 15 Months of Age:

According to Dr. Subedi:

• At birth: BCG vaccine against tuberculosis is given.

• At 6, 10, and 14 weeks: Vaccines are administered against rotavirus (diarrhea), polio, pneumonia (pneumococcal disease), measles, whooping cough, tetanus, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae B (Hib). These include Rotavirus, Polio, PCV, DPT, Hep B, and Hib vaccines.

• At 9 months: Children receive FIPV (fractional inactivated polio vaccine), PCV, and vaccines against measles and rubella.

• At 12 months: The vaccine against Japanese encephalitis is administered.

• At 15 months: Vaccines are given against measles, rubella, and typhoid.

Starting this fiscal year, the government has also introduced the HPV vaccine (Human Papillomavirus) to protect against cervical cancer, targeting fifth-grade girls and 10-year-old out-of-school girls.