Comparative assessment of pain reduction with topical EMLA and physical pain blocker in primary whole cell DPT vaccination using neonatal infant pain scale -an open labelled randomized control trial

immunization is an important cost effective public health intervention to control vaccine preventable infectious diseases among children. Though pharmacological interventions are available to reduce pain of vaccine pricks , they are not widely practiced in India due to high burden on health care infrastructure and manpower.in this setting nonpharmacological methods which are safe, easily available, more accessible and acceptable may prove useful if their physiological actions are understood and efficacy proven by trials.

In this regard, this study intends to compare pain reduction efficacy of physical method of using pain blocker with standard topical EMLA (eutectic mixture of local anesthetics) cream application for vaccination pain associated with whole cell Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus containing pentavalent vaccine for the three primary doses. The pain would be measured with standard NIPS (NEONATAL INFANT PAIN SCALE).