Parents queue up for anti-H1N1 shots for children

Serum Institute of India, 1.8 lakh vials of NasoVac (s) were available in December but there were no takers.

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“Parents are asking us to vaccinate children against H1N1 virus and we have started giving immunization shots against Influenza A, Influenza B and H1N1 virus,” Doctor said.

The spurt in H1N1 cases in the city and across the country, and a rise in cold, cough and fever — likely H1N1 symptoms — have sent worried parents queuing up before paediatricians to get their children vaccinated against the virus (swine flu). Last week, child care clinics registered 30-40 cases of cold, cough and fever, each.

Dr Umesh Vaidya, paediatrician at KEM hospital said rising cases of swine flu across the country have led to panic. “Parents are asking us to vaccinate children against H1N1 virus and we have started giving immunization shots against Influenza A, Influenza B and H1N1 virus,” Vaidya said.

The Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) has asked people not to panic and said despite increasing swine flu cases (H1N1 virus) in the city, the situation was not as alarming as it was in 2009-10. Dr Anand Deshpande, President of the Pune unit of IAP has asked patients and parents of children with flu-like symptoms not to panic.

Vaidya said it was only based on doctor’s clinical evaluation of patient that oseltamivir was prescribed. “Along with fever, there is severe headache, bodyache and the child looks extremely weak. It necessitates administration of Tamiflu or oseltamivir.”

Dr Seemab Shaikh, ear, nose and throat specialist said parents are needlessly worried.

“We keep a close watch on symptoms and if seasonal flu subsides in two to three days then there is no need for Tamiflu.According to Dr Sharad Agharkhedkar, paediatrician at Pimpri’s D Y Patil hospital, Pune has been witnessing swine flu cases since 2009. So doctors are well-versed with symptoms and Tamiflu is given if throat is extremely red and infection is bad. Parents have been asking for vaccination,” Agharkhedkar said.

Meanwhile, at Serum Institute of India, 1.8 lakh vials of NasoVac (S) were available in December but there were no takers. And now there is a huge demand. “We had to destroy vaccines as shelf life had expired. Due to increasing cases across the country there have been so many enquiries,” says Dr Rajeev Dhere, Executive Director of Serum Institute of India.

Anuradha Mascarenhas

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues . Professional Background Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature. Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO. Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives. Awards and Recognition Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.” Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) 1. Cancer & Specialized Medical Care "Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells" (Nov 26, 2025): Reporting on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. Discipline, diet and purpose; How a 97-year-old professor defies ageing'' (Nov 15, 2025) Report about Prof Gururaj Mutalik, the first Head of Department at Pune's B J Government Medical College who at 97 credits his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose. 2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series) Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs. "For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune. 3. Lifestyle & Wellness News "They didn't let cancer, diabetes and heart disease stop them from travelling" (Dec 22, 2025): A collaborative piece featuring survivors who share practical tips for traveling with chronic conditions. At 17, his BP shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study flags why child and teen hypertension doubled between 2000 and 2020'' (Nov 12,2025)--A report that focusses on 17-year-old-boy's hypertensive crisis and reflects the rising global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents. 4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure For promoting sci-comm, gender diversity: IUCAA woman prof highlighted in Nature" (Nov 25, 2025): Covering the global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics. Pune researchers find a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe'' (December 3, 2025)- A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe was just 1.5 billion years old , one of the earliest to have been observed so far. Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions. ... Read More

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