Vibha Varshney reveals how the Health Ministry fumbled with the country’s vaccine demands
Parliament questions vaccine shortage
On 17.12.2008, responding to questions by Shiv Sena the former health minister Anbumani Ramadoss accepted that the shortage of vaccines marginally affected the Universal Immunization Programme Read more...
On 29.10.2008, Panabaka Lakshmi, minister for state, when questioned by CPI accepts that Bengal faced vaccine shortage as enough stock wasn't procured Read more...
The minister for state in reply to question raised by T.D.P on 24.10.2008 said that private vaccine manufactures could cater to the requirement of the immunization programme. But the pressure on the ministry was pretty evident. Read more...
Rajya sabha MP Brinda Karat asks whether the ministry had tried to make the public sector units GMP compliant. The Minister of State did not reply to this part of her question. Read more...
Later, in an answer to a question asked by Amar Singh of Samajwadi Pary, the minister that a proposal for upgradation of the facilities at CRI Kasauli to make them GMP compliant has been received. WHO experts have examined and agreed that the proposal was feasible. Read more...
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Nagpur saw a shortage of DPT vaccines in December 2008. The city municipality’s entire stock including the buffer was exhausted.
Vijaya Bhardwaj, Nagpur’s medical officer says that the city procures its share of vaccines from the Directorate of Health in Mumbai, who did not provide a reason for the shortage.
However, the supply of vaccines resumed in January 2009 and the children who missed their vaccines due to the shortage in previous year caught up. In the meantime, Nagpur municipal commission did not come across any case of DPT (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Whooping cough).
But, no records are available to ascertain whether a child was left out or not.
Alok Kumar Gupta reports from Bihar
There is a shortage of vaccines in many parts of Bihar. Around 300 patients, on an average succumb to this shortage, in Nalanda Medical College (Patna) every year. The cycle rickshaw peddlers of the city will respond faster if you ask to be taken to the ‘Baccha Murda Ghar’ instead of tetanus ward of the hospital.
Also, many people don’t understand what a vaccine is…others, who are aware can’t get their children vaccinated since vaccines are unavailable in their villages, primary health centres and hospitals.
There have been instances of the administered vaccines being ineffective. They were not stored at the right temperature. Doctors blame it on the faulty refrigerators running on infrequent supply of electricity in most villages.
This shortage has agitated many. Most are being told to buy their own vaccines.
Ashutosh Mishra reports vaccine shortage in Orissa
Many parts in Orissa saw a shortage in vaccine supply, last year.
I spoke to the state joint director of rural health, Dina Krishna Panda who admitted to a shortage of BCG in February and March but added that the situation was improving after a recent supply of 2 lakh doses.
P. Sitaram, the chief medical officer (CMO) of Raigarh district, agreed that a delay in supply by government had caused the shortage. In the months of September and October, there was a shortage of DPT and Polio vaccine in his district. This year saw no supply of vaccines till March. But, the CMO seemed confident that this problem would soon be solved.
There was a shortage of Measles vaccines in Nuapada district during the months of November and December.
A similar shortage was felt by Banmali Jena, doctor at the Botarma community health centre in Khurda district. Both DPT and Polio vaccines were in short supply in his district.
My interactions with all the doctors confirm that the scarcity of vaccines was a direct result of the government missing their delivery targets.
Read the next issue of DTE to find out how this shortage of vaccines arose.
There is a shortage of vaccines in many parts of Bihar. Around 300 patients, on an average succumb to this shortage, in Nalanda Medical College (Patna) every year. The cycle rickshaw peddlers of the city will respond faster if you ask to be taken to the ‘Baccha Murda Ghar’ instead of tetanus ward of the hospital.
Many parts in Orissa saw a shortage in vaccine supply, last year.