Immunization is a vital, cost-effective public health process that strengthens the immune system against infectious diseases using vaccines.

• In India, for ensuring vaccine-preventable diseases are controlled Government Of India has brought in two schemes: Universal Immunization Programme and Mission Indradhanush.

Mission Indradhanush.

• Mission Indradhanush is a vaccination campaign under the Universal Immunization Programme, conducted in areas of low immunization coverage to vaccinate left-out and dropped-out children and pregnant women.
• The name Mission Indradhanush symbolizes the seven colours of the rainbow, which represent protection against seven vaccine-preventable diseases.

What you need to know about Vaccines?

• Vaccines reduce risks of getting a disease by working with your body’s natural defenses to build protection.
• Vaccines are also critical to the prevention and control of infectious disease outbreaks.
• Vaccines contain only killed or weakened forms of germs like viruses or bacteria, they do not cause the disease or put you at risk of its complications.

Source: The Hindu