Adverse reactions during routine immunisation of children to be covered under health scheme in Karnataka

Adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) is any untoward medical occurrence which follows immunisation and which does not necessarily have a relationship with the usage of the vaccine. Adverse events are categorised into minor, serious and severe.

To ensure coverage of routine immunisation of children (aged up to five years) under the National Health Mission with Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana PMJAY-CM’s Arogya Karnataka (AB PMJAY-CM’s ArK), the State Health Department has now made a provision for treatment of all adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) under the health scheme.

According to a circular issued by the Health Department, all empaneled  network hospitals (both government and private) should utilise the mapped package codes listed under AB PMJAY-CM’s ArK for AEFI treatment, excluding minor reactions. The adverse events should be attended to without any delay by admitting the child, the circular states.

An AEFI is any untoward medical occurrence which follows immunisation and which does not necessarily have a relationship with the usage of the vaccine. Adverse events are categorised into minor, serious and severe.

Minor reactions are common and self-limiting that usually occur within a few hours of injection and resolve after a short period of time, and pose little danger.

While severe reactions can be disabling but are rarely life-threatening (do not lead to long-term problems), serious adverse events can result in death, in-patient hospitalisation, persistent or significant disability.

State Health Commissioner Randeep D. said severe reactions and serious adverse events require medical attention, and hospitalisation in a few cases. “The existing AB PMJAY-ArK package has no code for AEFI. However, there are several codes in the package which are direct and related to the existing codes. Only severe and serious adverse events are enlisted. Out of the 19 reactions, 10 are directly mapped to existing codes while nine are mapped to related codes,” he said.

An analysis of the mapped codes from 2018 till date has revealed that acute febrile illness, febrile seizures, incision and drainage of large abscess, anaphylaxis and acute abdomen are the top five utilised codes. Hence, all empaneled hospitals have been directed to treat children who develop AEFI under the scheme, he said.