Chandigarh, May 26: There are so many new and expensive vaccines available in the markets that are not included in the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) of the Government of India. And hence, there is no clarity over the efficacy of these drugs.

Most paediatricians in the city, however, appreciate the fact that more children are being vaccinated with newer vaccines. They maintain that vaccines for Hepatitis-A, typhoid and small pox should be encouraged.

“This is a positive step towards better health as these vaccines have been proved to protect against many deadly diseases,” said Dr Veena Parmar, HoD Paediatrics, Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32.

“Typhoid vaccine available in the market has an efficacy of 50-70 per cent. Even though it has to be repeated every three years, it is worth taking,” Dr Parmar said. “The same way, Hepatitis-A causes liver diseases and jaundice and can even lead to liver failure and death. The Hepatitis-A vaccine is 94-100 per cent protective,” she said.

The protective efficacy of Varicella (chicken-pox) vaccine is 95-99 per cent. “Even if you have chicken-pox after getting vaccinated, the disease has a very mild effect,” said neonatologist Dr Mahesh Hirnandani. “The only problem is that vaccines for Hepatitis-A and chicken-pox are very expensive,” he said.

“The efficacy of certain vaccines for influenza and typhoid has not been established,” said Dr Meenu Singh, Department of Pediatrics at PGI. “The same is the case for Pneumococcal vaccine because it does not cover all the prevalent strains,” she said, adding that Hepatitis A vaccine could be given to children, especially those coming from more hygienic backgrounds.

Notably, a paper published in the January 2007 issue of the Indian Journal of Paediatrics said that children belonging to middle class and upper middle class families in the city are over-vaccinated.