Lucknow: A vaccine campaign to protect children in Uttar Pradesh against the deadly Japanese encephalitis disease began on Monday, but a doctor said a late start with the monsoon season fast approaching could leave many children vulnerable.
The immunization against the mosquito-borne disease, which mostly affects children, started in Gorakhpur, in eastern Uttar Pradesh where nearly 1,400 people died from it last year.
"The Chinese vaccine will be used to inoculate children of the identified age group, and nearly 2 million children will be vaccinated in 15 days," B Nath, director-general of the state health services, said.
The Uttar Pradesh government plans to vaccinate more than 7 million children.
More than 5,800 encephalitis cases were reported across the state last year. Malnourished children below 15 are most susceptible to the disease.
KP Kushwaha, a senior doctor at BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur, said the vaccination drive should have started a month earlier because it takes time for it to take effect once injected into the human body.
"We are already late. The vaccination should have been over by now because the Chinese vaccine becomes active in 40 days," Kushwaha said.
Japanese encephalitis causes swelling of the brain. Symptoms include high fever, seizures and vomiting.
It is spread by mosquitos that breed in water left from the annual monsoon season from June through September, officials say.
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