Test report gives clean chit to measles vaccines

“The test reports from Kasauli have concluded that the vaccines were of standard quality. The tests were done for sterility,abnormal toxicity and identity of the vaccine,” said AL Arya,Drug Controller,Uttar Pradesh. “The reports have been handed over to the Chief Medical Officer,” said Arya. “Partial report of the test has come. We are still awaiting the complete report from the lab,” said Dr Ajay Kheda,Deputy Commissioner (Immunisation) Ministry of Health,Government of India.

“The report says the vaccine was of standard quality. Vitamin A syrup and syringes were also found to be of standard quality. However,diluents are still being tested and we are waiting for that report,” he said.

After the kids’ deaths in three villages of Mohanlalganj area,three samples were collected for testing. While two samples,collected by the state and the Central team,were of the sealed vaccines of the same batch seized from Community Health Center,Mohanlalganj,the third sample was seized by the police. The two samples of the sealed vaccines were sent to the CRI,Kasauli.

“The vaccine vials which were used for vaccination in Padminkheda and Bindauan villages were seized by us. We have sent it for testing but even after several reminders,the reports have not reached us,” said Tribhuvan Tripathi,Circle Officer,Mohanlalganj.

Measles vaccines of the same batch were used by other teams in different villages under CHC Mohanlalganj. Thus,the problem seemed to be of a local level and not of the complete batch,said a senior health official. “The used vaccines could not be sent for test because as per food and drug administration norms,we cannot collect samples of the drug which is in use,but only the sealed samples. Moreover,there is a certain amount of vaccine needed for testing and hence the test cannot be done on one vial. Hence our drug inspector will not collect open vials at all,” said Arya.

“The report says clearly that the death was caused by anaphylactic shock. Though studies claim it happens one in a million cases,such studies are done by vaccine companies,” said Dr S P Ram,Director General,Health and Family Welfare. “No other cause of death seems to have emerged in any of the investigations,” said Dr Ram.