<p>Davangere: Belagavi has topped the state in the country’s first adult BCG vaccination drive to fight <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/tuberculosis">tuberculosis</a>, launched three months ago in 15 districts on a pilot basis.</p>.<p>Kalaburagi, Bengaluru Urban, Vijayapura and Davangere districts have figured in the top four spots. Dakshina Kannada is in the last spot.</p>.<p>More than 4,16,524 people in these districts have been vaccinated against tuberculosis. Of them, 2,21,204 are women, 1,94,758 are men and 562 are transgender persons.</p>.Karnataka Health dept launches adult TB vaccine programme in 16 districts .<p>The Health Department staff cannot administer the vaccine to people without written consent from them. Interestingly, women have outscored men in getting vaccinated against TB in each district.</p>.<p>Despite the drive targeting individuals from six categories --- those treated for TB in the last five years, close contacts of TB patients, individuals above 60 years, diabetics, smokers, and those with a BMI under 18 --- the turnout has been lower than expected, the officials said. </p>.<p>In the Davangere district alone, there are 2.5 lakh eligible people to get the vaccine. But only 30,546 have been vaccinated against the identified beneficiaries so far. The situation is the same in other districts also.</p>.<p>Davangere District Tuberculosis Officer Dr Muralidhar P D told DH that ten people have to be vaccinated within four hours of opening one vial of the vaccine. The main objective of the drive is to compare the districts selected under the drive with the remaining districts in terms of TB cases, he said.</p>.<p>If it is proved that the districts where the adult vaccination drive was conducted recorded low TB cases shortly, this drive is likely to be extended to the remaining districts in the future. The vaccine is available in all general hospitals, including primary health centres, he added.</p>.<p>Dr Muralidhar said the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) will compare the districts selected under the drive with non-selected districts and submit a report to the Union government after three years, considering the number of TB cases reported in these 15 districts. The staff of the Health Department will do the follow-up of those vaccinated every six months for three years, he said.</p>.<p>He also made it clear that this is not a new vaccine and is being given to newborn infants. For the first time, the adult population is being covered, he explained. </p>.<p>According to him, some studies have stated that this vaccine will also protect people from respiratory disorders, including Covid and H1N1. </p>.<p>On side effects, he said there are no major side effects from the vaccine. However, 10% of people may experience pus after they are vaccinated. But they will recover from it and there is no threat to the lives of people, he said.</p>
<p>Davangere: Belagavi has topped the state in the country’s first adult BCG vaccination drive to fight <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/tuberculosis">tuberculosis</a>, launched three months ago in 15 districts on a pilot basis.</p>.<p>Kalaburagi, Bengaluru Urban, Vijayapura and Davangere districts have figured in the top four spots. Dakshina Kannada is in the last spot.</p>.<p>More than 4,16,524 people in these districts have been vaccinated against tuberculosis. Of them, 2,21,204 are women, 1,94,758 are men and 562 are transgender persons.</p>.Karnataka Health dept launches adult TB vaccine programme in 16 districts .<p>The Health Department staff cannot administer the vaccine to people without written consent from them. Interestingly, women have outscored men in getting vaccinated against TB in each district.</p>.<p>Despite the drive targeting individuals from six categories --- those treated for TB in the last five years, close contacts of TB patients, individuals above 60 years, diabetics, smokers, and those with a BMI under 18 --- the turnout has been lower than expected, the officials said. </p>.<p>In the Davangere district alone, there are 2.5 lakh eligible people to get the vaccine. But only 30,546 have been vaccinated against the identified beneficiaries so far. The situation is the same in other districts also.</p>.<p>Davangere District Tuberculosis Officer Dr Muralidhar P D told DH that ten people have to be vaccinated within four hours of opening one vial of the vaccine. The main objective of the drive is to compare the districts selected under the drive with the remaining districts in terms of TB cases, he said.</p>.<p>If it is proved that the districts where the adult vaccination drive was conducted recorded low TB cases shortly, this drive is likely to be extended to the remaining districts in the future. The vaccine is available in all general hospitals, including primary health centres, he added.</p>.<p>Dr Muralidhar said the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) will compare the districts selected under the drive with non-selected districts and submit a report to the Union government after three years, considering the number of TB cases reported in these 15 districts. The staff of the Health Department will do the follow-up of those vaccinated every six months for three years, he said.</p>.<p>He also made it clear that this is not a new vaccine and is being given to newborn infants. For the first time, the adult population is being covered, he explained. </p>.<p>According to him, some studies have stated that this vaccine will also protect people from respiratory disorders, including Covid and H1N1. </p>.<p>On side effects, he said there are no major side effects from the vaccine. However, 10% of people may experience pus after they are vaccinated. But they will recover from it and there is no threat to the lives of people, he said.</p>