What is the importance of using Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines in India?These vaccines are effectiv

Q: What is UPSC Prelims?

UPSC Prelims is a competitive examination conducted in India. This question is from the 2020 UPSC Prelims Current Affairs paper.

Q: How can I prepare for UPSC Prelims Current Affairs?

To prepare for UPSC Prelims Current Affairs, practice previous year questions (PYQs), understand concepts thoroughly, and solve mock tests regularly. This 2020 question covers Health & Pharmaceuticals – Vaccines, Drugs & Disease Control topic.

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This UPSC Prelims 2020 Current Affairs question has a hard difficulty level and is marked as an important question.

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Question

What is the importance of using Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines in India?These vaccines are effective against pneumonia as well as meningitis and sepsis.Dependence on antibiotics that are not effective against drug resistant bacteria can be reduced.These vaccines have no side effects and cause no allergic reactions.Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: B — 1 and 2 onlyStep-by-step Solution:Statement 1 — Effective against pneumonia, meningitis, sepsis: Correct. Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) protects against Streptococcus pneumoniae infections, which cause pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections (sepsis). ✓Statement 2 — Reduces dependence on antibiotics: Correct. By preventing bacterial diseases, PCV reduces antibiotic use and misuse, thereby combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR). ✓Statement 3 — No side effects: Incorrect. PCVs can have side effects like fever, loss of appetite, headache, and local reactions at the injection site. ✗Why other options are incorrect:Option A (1 only): Incorrect because statement 2 is also correct.Option C (3 only): Incorrect because statement 3 is false, and 1 & 2 are true.Option D (1,2,3): Incorrect because statement 3 is false.Key Concept: PCV is a conjugate vaccine (weak antigen combined with a strong carrier). India approved the first fully indigenous PCV (Serum Institute of India) in 2020. It is included in the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) to reduce child mortality from pneumonia. Vaccines contribute to AMR reduction by preventing infections that would otherwise require antibiotics.

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More Questions from Health & Pharmaceuticals – Vaccines, Drugs & Disease Control

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More Questions from Health & Pharmaceuticals – Vaccines, Drugs & Disease Control

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