The initiative will provide protection against seven life-threatening diseases (Diphtheria, Whooping Cough, Tetanus, Polio, Tuberculosis, Measles and Hepatitis B), a release said. The initiative will provide protection against seven life-threatening diseases (Diphtheria, Whooping Cough, Tetanus, Polio, Tuberculosis, Measles and Hepatitis B), a release said.

‘Mission Indradhanush’, which was launched in December last year with an aim to cover partially vaccinated or unvaccinated children, is a nationwide initiative with a special focus on 201 districts.

These districts account for nearly 50 per cent of the total partially vaccinated or unvaccinated children in the country. The initiative will provide protection against seven life-threatening diseases (Diphtheria, Whooping Cough, Tetanus, Polio, Tuberculosis, Measles and Hepatitis B), a release said.

Vaccinations to guard against Japanese Encephalitis and Haemophilus influenza type B will be provided in selected districts of the country, the release added.

Between 2009 and 2013, immunisation coverage has increased from 61 per cent to 65 per cent, indicating only 1 per cent increase in coverage every year. To accelerate the process of immunisation by covering 5 per cent and more children every year, the mission mode has been adopted to achieve full coverage by 2020. In the first phase, high-focus 201 districts will be taken up for implementation. Of these, 82 districts are in four states of UP, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, and nearly 25 per cent of the partially vaccinated or uvaccinated children are in these districts. In the second phase, 297 districts will be targeted, the release added.

While 2.7 crore children are born in India every year, approximately 18.3 lakh children die before their fifth birthday. It is the low income families who lose the most children to these diseases. India records 5 lakh child deaths annually due to vaccine preventable diseases.

Despite high childhood mortality rates due to vaccine preventable diseases, 30 per cent children miss the benefits of full immunisation every year, which means an estimated 89 lakh children across the country either get only a few vaccines or no vaccines at all. One of every three children in India do not receive all vaccines that are available under UIP. Around five per cent of children in urban areas and eight per cent in rural areas are not immunised.

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