Immunization in practice - clearing the cobwebs.

Vaccination is one of the most cost effective methods of prevention of diseases without even raising the socioeconomic status of the community. Small pox eradication from the world is the perfect example of the role of mass vaccination of the entire community of the universe. India is feeling proud to be polio free for the last 1 y and it is expected that the world would be polio free very soon. The most important purpose of National immunization program of any country is to prevent deaths due to vaccine preventable diseases followed by severe disability and morbidity in that order. Therefore keeping in view the above principle, Govt of India has included Baciilus Calmette Guerrin (BCG), Oral polio vaccine (OPV), Diphtheria, Pertussis & Tetanus (DPT), Measles, Hepatitis-B and now Hemophilus influenza type b (Hib) vaccines in the armamentarium of the National schedule. Every child in the country should receive basic vaccines as per Govt. of India schedule and is available free of cost at all health centers in India.