West Bengal rolls out pentavalent vaccine programme

Kolkata: West Bengal has introduced the pentavalent vaccination programme throughout the state to prevent infant mortality, a state health official said Saturday.

The combination of five vaccines in one will act against five diseases -- diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus (DPT), Hepatitis B and HIB (meningitis).

It has to be administered in three doses when the infant reaches six, 10 and 14 weeks and a booster dose at one-and-a-half years.

"The programme was initiated Friday. This vaccine will be given to children up to the age of one year and will spare infants from going through the ordeal of multiple vaccinations for various ailments," said B.R. Satpathi, director of state health services.

The vaccination programme is expected to benefit 15 lakh children in the state every year.