Kerala and Assam Expand Japanese Encephalitis Vaccination: Kozhikode Child Drive Underway, Sonitpur Adult Campaign Starts Jan. 19

Overview

• Kozhikode began vaccinating children aged 1–15 on January 15 at schools, anganwadis and government health centres, with plans to cover 676,176 children using 742,344 doses across 3,316 sites.
• Kerala’s STAGI reported no proof that two mild post-shot reactions in Malappuram and Kozhikode were caused by the vaccine, advised hospital-based vaccination for children with fever-triggered fits and recommended age-appropriate paracetamol after dosing.
• Sonitpur district in Assam will launch a free adult JE vaccination drive on January 19 targeting residents aged 15–65, identified through door-to-door surveys while excluding pregnant women and the critically ill.
• Officials planned 2,874 sessions at 1,160 sites in Sonitpur, deploying ASHA workers, ANMs, anganwadi workers, volunteers and teachers to reach schools, tea estates, remote areas and community venues.
• JE is spread by Culex mosquitoes with no human-to-human transmission, severe cases can be fatal in about 30 percent, and public guidance stresses vaccination and bite protection because there is no specific cure.