KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Health and Food Safety is set to launch a vaccination campaign against Japanese encephalitis (JE) in selected local levels of Jhapa and Kailali. The initiative follows an increase in the number of cases and deaths attributed to the JE infection in these regions.
According to Dr. Abhiyan Gautam, chief of the Child Health and Immunization Service Section under the Department of Health Services, the campaign is being launched in the first phase to mitigate the risk of infection. The vaccination drive is scheduled to commence on Sept. 17 in Kailali and on Sept. 21 in Jhapa.
The immunization program will cover all local levels in Jhapa. In Kailali, the campaign will be conducted in Dhangadhi Sub-metropolitan City, Lamkichuha Municipality, and Ghodaghodi Municipality. Officials stated that the vaccine will be administered to individuals aged 30 years and above.
