Guwahati: Assam on Sunday started adult vaccination programme for Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in Sivsagar district, becoming the first state to undertake adult vaccination in the country.
State Health Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sharma inaugurated the programme at Geleki in the district.
He urged all people aged above 15 years in the district to take the vaccine.
”The JE vaccine has a success rate of about 90 per cent and even at this rate, we will be able to contain it drastically,” he added.
The vaccination programme will continue till October 30. The adult vaccination programme will be extended to other high JE prone districts depending on its success in Sivsagar district.
The state health department will incur all expenses and over Rs 72 crore will be spent towards operational costs alone.
About five lakh people are expected to be covered under the programme. (UNI)