Sama is co-organising a seminar on “New Vaccines-why, which, when” to be held at the National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW), Delhi on 20-21 October 2016. The co-organisers include Jan Swasthya Sahyog, Chhattisgarh, the National Medical Journal of India, and Forum for Medical Ethics Society, Mumbai.
Over the last few years, to the initial six vaccines against tuberculosis, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, poliomyelitis and measles; Hepatitis B vaccine has been included in the Universal Immunization Programme. The need of the hour is to have a dialogue on “New vaccines” in the true spirit of public health. With focus on high scientific quality of discussions, the seminar aims to move towards building a consensus as well as a perspective on this issue. A moot question for deliberation would be: Which vaccines should be added to the national immunization schedule, so that they are offered to all children in the country?
The Seminar is envisaged as a dialogue between scientists, doctors, policy makers and members of the civil society.