Vaccine in short supply

Deccan Chronicle; October 24th, 2010

The country is sitting on a time bomb, as far as the critical BCG vaccine, used to immunise newborn against childhood tuberculosis, is concerned. A sensational RTI application, filed by a Kerala-based doctor shows that the Union government has only 1.58 crore doses of the vaccine while three crore doses are required by the country until March 2011.

“The government had decided to procure 325 lakh doses from the Serum Institute of India for 2010-2011. But the public units were reopened earlier this year, including the central BCG vaccine laboratory in Chennai, which agreed to provide 279 lakh doses. However, as this stock was found to be expired, the government has to come up with an alternative plan to procure the doses,” says Dr K.V. Babu, an ophthalmologist at Payannur, and a central council member of the Indian Medical Association.

Health ministry records show that the quantity of vaccines available in some states that are supposed to have a buffer for three months, are depleting dangerously. The entire system has become a monopoly of the private players, Dr Babu alleges. “Legally, the 279 lakh doses that were available with the BCG lab could have been used immediately after it was shut down, as in June 2008, the country had only 70,000 doses. But the vaccines were rejected on the basis that the lab did not conform to good manufacturing practices. This argument falls flat because nearly 3 crore doses DPT and TT vaccines produced by the Central Research Institute in Kasauli were put in the market in the same period,” he explains.

Though there have been whispers that production is yet to start at the BCG laboratory in the city, authorities claim that the lab has begun its work. “It is a biological process that will take at least 10-12 months,” said a senior official at the lab.

Despite the colourful banner ‘Long live BCG lab’ that flutters at the entrance of the isolated building in Guindy ever since the grand reopening in February, the lab is riddled with problems.

“The government knows we are short-staffed,” the official confirmed. “There is only one microbiologist, and no veterinarian. Yet, we are expected to perform,” the official lamented.

The only silver lining is that Tamil Nadu does not seem to be reeling under shortage of the vaccine as of now. “We have adequate stock for nearly six months,” said Dr Vanaja, joint director of immunisation, directorate of public health.