Intra-nasal H1N1 vaccine hits market

A year after H1N1 virus created a pandemic in Pune,Nasovac,an indigenous intra-nasal spray vaccine manufactured by Serum Institute of India Limited is now available in the market.

Mahendra Pitaliya,Chief Coordinator of the Chemist Association of Pune district,said the stock of vaccines is available at Anand Enterprises and Swastik medical stores. There are around 2,000 chemists in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad and they who will purchase the vaccine from the stockists seeing the demand,Pitaliya said. Nasovac,freeze dried,is a live monovalent vaccine administered by an intra-nasal spray.

A 2.5 ml multidose vial contains five doses of 0.5 ml each and a single intra-nasal dose is recommended for people above three years of age. The tip attached to the sprayer is equipped with a nozzle and produces a fine mist that is deposited in the nose. But it should be taken only on doctors advice,Pitaliya said.

The cost of a 2.5 ml multidose vial is Rs 790 while a single dose costs Rs 158.

The manufacturers have cautioned that children below 36 months should not be given the Nasovac vaccine as there was no clinical data available. Nasovac has undergone single dose and repeated dose toxicity studies in mice and rats when administered intra-nasally.

The vaccine can be given to people with minor illnesses like diarrhoea or mild upper respiratory tract infection. The manufacturers have warned that it should not be given to people with severe asthma or active wheezing as they have not been studied in clinical trials.

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