Children administered life-saving vaccines during routine immunization in Assam and Tripura

Immunization services continue amid COVID-19, while keeping health workers and communities safe

A child getting vaccinated at a boat clinic in Chayygaon Block, primary health centre (PHC), Kamrup, Assam. As many as 18 children were vaccinated on the first day after the resumption of routine immunization services in Assam.

‘’Aaliya Begum, our ASHA worker always informs me about the vaccine schedule of my daughter. I already knew the benefits of vaccines from ASHA and boat clinic teams, so I rushed to the clinic to get my daughter, who is 16 months old, vaccinated. At the campsite, I saw an officer demonstrating hand washing technique and explaining about social distancing and hygiene practices to fight against COVID-19,’‘ shared Aashira Khatun, one of the beneficiaries.

Some names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.

Immunization services continue amid COVID-19, while keeping health workers and communities safe

Women with their children at a safe distance from each other, during the routine immunization camp at Halairpur, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Center in Unakoti district, Tripura.

Immunization services continue amid COVID-19, while keeping health workers and communities safe

Health workers displaying a banner on the importance of routine immunization at the Boat Clinic in Kamrup, Assam.

Vaccines protect children under-5, who are most at-risk from life-threatening diseases. If the children are not administered routine immunization, the health gains accrued in the past will be lost, leading to mortality and morbidity due to diseases that are easily preventable.

Immunization services continue amid COVID-19, while keeping health workers and communities safe

A child being administered oral polio vaccine (OPV)  at a Boat Clinic in Mechaki Chapori, Dibrugarh, Assam.

Immunization services continue amid COVID-19, while keeping health workers and communities safe

At the routine immunization camp in Kamrup, Assam, health authorities made all necessary arrangements to ensure the safety of communities and health workers. Physical distancing was maintained and wearing masks was mandatory.

One day before the immunization session, accredited social health activists (ASHAs) and community health workers of boat clinic went door-to-door to mobilize the beneficiaries to get their children vaccinated. All community workers of boat clinics across Assam work closely with ASHAs as they are the trusted companions of the local people.

Immunization services continue amid COVID-19, while keeping health workers and communities safe

A total of 73 children were vaccinated at the routine immunization camp at ASHA Boat clinic in Romai, Dibrugarh, Assam during April 2020. The health authorities took all precautionary measures to ensure the safety of women, children and health workers.

District Boat Clinic Coordinator Shri Arup Saikia shared, “Initially, people were scared to come to the clinic. But we gained their confidence when they saw we were taking all precautions. All of us were wearing gloves and masks; and we demonstrated our own hand-washing before delivery of services. Circles were made on the field with lime powder and we cordoned off the area by tying boundary ropes to prevent gathering inside the camp.”

Immunization services continue amid COVID-19, while keeping health workers and communities safe

Women with their children along with health workers at the routine immunization camp organised at a heath center in Dima Hasao, Assam during the World Immunization Week 2020.