It seems that the long wait to wheel out a first ever pentavalent vaccine in India under the national immunization program is over. As per reports, the Union Health Ministry has indicted the launch of the multi faceted vaccine to the state government of Tamil Nadu and Kerala as recommended by the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI).
As per health experts, the pentavalent vaccine can prove to be a cure for diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus (DPT), Hepatitis B and HIB (Haemophilus influenzae type B).
The ministry has confirmed, “The pentavalent vaccine will greatly reduce chances of drop-out, will need no additional cold chain space as vaccine vials will reduce and the number of syringes used will also fall. All children attending the routine immunisation rounds will get the pentavalent shot at 6, 10 and 14 weeks. For the first year, we will require over 50 lakh doses. The vaccine vials will reach us by the end of June and the vaccine use will be rolled out immediately after that”.
Though the vaccine was subjected to be launched in 10 states, the government picked only two states in order to curtail the cost. Meanwhile, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) has been requested to send a batch of the vaccine with immediate effect.