Diphtheria, Pertussis Are Vaccine-Preventable, Says Expert

Outbreaks due to loss of herd immunity: Soumya Swaminathan

Low awareness of vaccination had led to the resurgence of infectious diseases such as diphtheria and pertussis, say researchers.

The recent outbreak of diphtheria in the State is due to a fall in herd immunity and not administering the mandatory booster vaccine dose to children, said Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist, World Health Organisation. “Parents are not having their children vaccinated. It is a global phenomenon,” she said.

When recently older children were diagnosed with diphtheria it came to be known that parents had invariably neglected to ensure booster dose of vaccine against the infection. Booster doses are given when the child is 18 months old and then at the age of five years.