Save infants from lethal diseases, sponsor their missed vaccinations

WHILE the world waits for a vaccine against COVID-19, underprivileged children in India are in danger of contracting other deadly diseases because they have missed their crucial childhood vaccinations. The pandemic has disrupted their immunisation schedules.

In April 2020, 2.9 million infants missed their first dose of the measles vaccine due to the lockdown. Like measles, there are other serious illnesses that can infect, maim and even kill children.

Vaccines save lives

More than 500,000 under-fives die in India every year from vaccine-preventable and treatable infections, such as pneumonia, diarrhoea and sepsis. If all children are vaccinated after birth, more than half these lives could be saved.

The problem

When the lockdown was declared in March, over 13.7 lakh anganwadis or rural child care centres shut down. As each centre ensures the 18 children under six in their care are up to date with vaccinations, it affected 2.43 crore children in the first years of their lives. And most anganwadis remain closed.

The longer immunisation is delayed for a child, the more susceptible they become to distressing diseases such as polio, diphtheria, tetanus, etc. It is not only dangerous for our children but for the health of the whole country, already under siege with the coronavirus.

How can you help?

We have teamed up with our NGO partner CRY to give the missed vaccinations to 40,000 children.

Your contribution can help underprivileged children get vaccinated for preventable diseases such as BCG (tuberculosis), DTP (diphtheria), HEP-B (hepatitis B), polio and typhoid in 17 states of India, including Maharashtra, Gujarat, UP, MP, Chattisgarh, West Bengal, Orissa among others.

At ₹1,000 per child, CRY will provide a cycle of vaccination for a child for a year. And ₹5,000 will provide a complete five-year schedule of vaccinations for one child. Donate today to save an infant from deadly diseases.

WHO director general Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus has said: “While the world strives to develop a new vaccine for Covid-19 at record speed, we must not risk losing the fight to protect everyone, everywhere, against vaccine-preventable diseases. These diseases will come roaring back if we do not vaccinate.”

₹5,000 will immunise a child with the required vaccinations for 5 years. Make a donation now!

About CRY

CRY was born of a dream to ensure happier childhoods for all children. Today, over 4 decades later, CRY works with 102 local NGOs across 19 states in India and has impacted the lives of over 3 million children.

With the support of generous donors, CRY addresses children’s critical needs by working with parents, teachers, anganwadi workers, communities, district and state-level governments as well as the children themselves.

They focus on changing behaviours and practices at the grassroots level and influencing public policy at a systemic level – thereby creating an ecosystem where children are made the nation’s priority. CRY has jumped into action to ensure that the communities they serve receive the integral resources they need and stay protected. They have been ensuring that regular vaccinations are provided to children to avoid their susceptibility to other deadly diseases.