- By Kamakshi Bishnoi
- Wed, 03 Sep 2025 04:38 PM (IST)
- Source:Jagran News Network
The facility of administering vaccines to newborns immediately after delivery has been resumed in the maternity ward of Sadar Hospital, Muzaffarpur. Infants will now receive the BCG, Hepatitis B, and oral polio vaccines at birth.
The programme was jointly inaugurated by Superintendent Dr BS Jha and District Immunisation Officer Dr SK Pandey. Dr Jha said that providing the birth dose right after delivery would help protect infants from serious diseases, ensure continuity in the vaccination cycle, and contribute to reducing the infant mortality rate.
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He further stressed that vaccination records would be uploaded online and monitored regularly, adding that action would be taken in cases of negligence. The RI cell team, the matron of Sadar Hospital, and all ANMs and GNM staff were present during the event. Healthcare workers termed the initiative a major step towards strengthening infant health security.
According to health officials, the vaccination-at-birth programme had been launched in 2017, but was discontinued in 2018 following complaints from patients about extra service charges. The facility has now been restored and will operate regularly.
Residents also welcomed the move. Sarita Devi of Bochahan, whose grandson was born a week ago, said the vaccine was not available at the time of delivery, forcing her to return after seven days. “Now parents won’t need to make repeated hospital visits,” she added. Hospital manager Praveen Kumar confirmed that the service had been available earlier but was stopped midway. “It has now been restarted and will continue without interruption,” he assured.
