Rotavirus and inactivated poliovirus vaccination campaign was today launched in Haryana with state Health Minister Anil Vij administering anti-rotavirus drops to five children at Civil Hospital in Ambala Cantonment.
"With this, Haryana has become the fourth state to include rotavirus among routine vaccinations. The other three states are Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Himachal Pradesh," an official release said.
The rotavirus vaccine, which is administered to children at ages of six months, 10 months and 14 months, is available in the market for about Rs 3,000. But the health department will provide it to about six lakh children free of cost, Vij said.
"This vaccine will help reduce mortality rate due to rotavirus infection which causes severe diarrhoea among children," he said.
A free vaccination campaign for protection from pneumonia is also being considered by the state government, Vij added.
