The ambitious plan of the Union Health Ministry to introduce a pentavalent vaccine to fight five diseases in the National Immunisation Programme early this year has received a setback.
With doubts being raised about the need of the vaccine,the ministry has now asked the Indian Council of Medical Research ICMR to re-confirm the decision to introduce it.
Recommended by the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation NTAGI three years back,the single-shot vaccine has antigens of diphtheria,tetanus,pertussis whooping cough,hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae Type B Hib.
There are differences on opinion on the introduction of the vaccine. An expert committee has been formed to look into the burden of the diseases which will be covered by this vaccine and the whether it is important to introduce it or not, said Dr V M Katoch,Director General,ICMR.
The vaccine is already in use in the country,being given to children by private doctors.
CPM leader Brinda Karat,in a letter to the Health Ministry,has also raised doubts about the safety of the vaccine. I have requested the Health Ministry to advise the Drug Controller General of India to issue an advisory regarding the adverse effects of the vaccine which have been reported in Bhutan and Sri Lanka, Karat said.
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