Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan has said that Rotavirus will be included in the universal immunization programme soon.

Addressing the 11th International Rotavirus Symposium in New Delhi on Wednesday, Dr Vardhan said, vaccines against rotavirus will expedite India’s progress on meeting the Millennium Development Goal to reduce child mortality by the year 2015.

He said, the rotavirus vaccine will play a key role in reducing the childhood and infant mortality and morbidity in the country. Dr Vardhan said that the government will ensure that the benefits of vaccination reach all sections of the society, regardless of social and economic status.

Our Correspondent reports that Diarrhea caused by rotavirus, kills nearly 80 thousand children each year, results in up to 10 lakh hospitalizations, pushing many Indian families below the poverty line.

It also imposes an economic burden of over 300 crore rupees each year to the country. India has developed and licensed its first indigenous rotavirus vaccine, developed under a public-private partnership by the Ministry of Science and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It will be introduced in a phased manner all over the country.