What is the dose of Vitamin A at 9 months?

Appeared in: Raj. CHO -2020

Explanation

The first prophylactic dose of Vitamin A is administered at 9 months of age.
According to the national schedule for preventing Vitamin A deficiency, the recommended dose for a 9-month-old infant is 100,000 IU.
This dose is typically given as 1 mL of an oral solution and is often coordinated with the first dose of the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine.

Option A: This dose is too low for the 9-month prophylactic schedule.
Option C: This dose is meant for older children, not for the first dose at 9 months.
Option D: This is an incorrect and excessively high dose that is not recommended in any standard prophylactic or treatment schedule.

Visual 1: Infographic: A chart showing the complete Vitamin A prophylaxis schedule in India, detailing the age, dose in IU, and volume in mL for each of the nine doses from 9 months to 5 years.
Visual 2: Illustration: A visual showing a healthcare worker administering the oral Vitamin A solution to an infant using a spoon or dropper, alongside the MR vaccine injection, to highlight the co-administration at 9 months.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Vitamin A Prophylaxis Schedule helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
The Vitamin A prophylaxis program is a critical public health intervention in India aimed at preventing childhood blindness (xerophthalmia) and reducing child mortality from common illnesses like measles and diarrhea.
Nurses play a vital role in administering the dose correctly, educating mothers about the schedule, and recording it in the child's immunization card.
What if a child misses the 9-month dose? The nurse should administer the 100,000 IU dose as soon as the child presents before their first birthday. If the child is already over 1 year old, they should receive the age-appropriate dose of 200,000 IU and then continue with the 6-monthly schedule.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question: it's asking for a specific fact from the national immunization and prophylaxis schedule.
Recognize that 'Vitamin A dose' and '9 months' are the key terms.
Recall or look up the Vitamin A supplementation schedule for children in India. This is a common topic in Community Health Nursing and Pediatrics.
Focus on the first dose. The schedule starts at 9 months with a specific initial dose.
Compare the recalled dose (100,000 IU) with the given options.
Eliminate the other options by identifying when they are used: 200,000 IU is for subsequent doses in older children, and 50,000 IU is for younger infants in specific therapeutic situations.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Qajksi2hSDcJ24i_o43DuZ

Practise the full Raj. CHO -2020

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.