New Government Yellow Fever Vaccination Center coming up in Nagpur - Daga Hospital

Nagpur: The state government would be setting up a vaccination centre for yellow fever in city at Daga Hospital. Except for Mumbai and Pune, there is no yellow fever vaccination centre in Maharashtra.

The public health secretary Sujata Saunik, who was in city for a court hearing, visited the Daga hospital to finalize the details of the project. She told TOI that Nagpur was emerging as an international connection for flights and was fast growing into a city with high outflow of tourists to 43 countries in South America, South Africa and certain African countries that require the vaccination before visit there, the state had deemed it necessary to start a centre in city.

"Though we are yet to get a formal letter from Union ministry of health and family welfare, it has given a nod for the centre on May 19. Department has not fixed the cost for the vaccine but it will be available at subsidized rates which will be at least one fifth to one sixth the cost of that available in private set up," said Saunik.

The public health department acting director Dr Mohan Jadhav told TOI, the department had sent a proposal to Central government in May end for starting the yellow fever vaccination centre at three places-- Nagpur, Aurangabd and an additional centre at Pune. "Since we desired to have the centre first at Nagpur, the centre granted us the same. The others too will be sanctioned soon," he said.

Daga hospital has been chosen for setting up the centre as it is a women and child hospital and has all the necessary facilities for all types of vaccination. Dr Jadhav said that the WHO in its recent guidelines had included China in the list of countries requiring yellow fever vaccination as the country had reported 11 cases of imported yellow fever till April this year. Two cases were reported from April 4 and 12.

The yellow fever vaccination is required 10-15 days before reaching the destination country. Travellers from Nagpur generally go to Mumbai for taking vaccine. The vaccination was otherwise available at only one private centre and would cost anything from Rs4000 to Rs 8000.