MALAPPURAM: The district health department received four lakh doses of Td vaccine on Monday to fight the spread of diphtheria cases. Though it is meant for the northern districts, most of it would be used in Malappuram district itself. The vaccine will be shared with Palakkad, Kozhikode and Kannur districts, said District Medical Officer Dr. V. Ummer Farook.
The doses for the other districts will be given according to the instructions from the Director of Health Services, he said. The immunisation drive to vaccinate every child in the district within three months is now back on track. The special vaccination drive was at a standstill due to the unavailability of Td vaccine for the past few days. The shortage had also affected the drive in schools in the district.
The ongoing immunisation drive is primarily concentrated in schools and areas where the cases are reported. Besides children below 16 years, the vaccine is being administered to adults who have direct contact with the infected. The vaccination programmes planned in 13 health blocks where more cases are suspected were reported could be completed within the stipulated time, the DMO said.
