Pneumococcal disease is the biggest vaccine- preventable cause of death in children under five, globally and in India. Pneumococcus is the leading cause of pneumonia, identified as one of the major causes of death in children globally. India accounted for one-fifth (20%) of the global pneumonia deaths in 2015. Based on literature review and available evidence on disease burden, safety and efficacy, cost-effectiveness, sustainability and global experience, the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) recommended the introduction of pneumococcal vaccine in the national immunization schedule.
In 2017, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India (GoI) introduced Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) for protecting children from pneumococcal pneumonia and other pneumococcal diseases. Under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), the expansion of PCV was done in phases. The vaccine was first available in six high burden states till 2020, viz. Bihar, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The MoHFW has decided to expand the coverage of PCV to the 31 remaining states and union territories in 2021-2022.
This project was commissioned by John Snow India to capture the introduction of Pneumosil––India’s first indigenous PCV––across the country, from Ladakh to Lakshadweep, Maharashtra to Manipur.
