New addition to Universal Immunisation Programme in India

India may introduce Hepatitis B Vaccine (HBV) in the Universal Immunisation Programme by the year 2002, according to health officials. HBV has already been included in the immunisation programmes of most of the South East Asian nations like Indonesia, Maldives, Bhutan and Thailand. Bangladesh, Myanmar and Korea will also include it in their programmes by the end of next year. India has already developed a genetically engineered indigenous vaccine that is being administered to people all over he country. India could potentially be the largest manufacturer of the vaccine in the South East Asian region. The drug, manufactured by Shanta Biotech Ltd. is marketed by the brand name of Shanvac. It is cheaper than the imported variety. A one ml dose costs approximately Rs. 300 in the market. The dose for children (0.5 ml – half of the adult dose) costs Rs. 180 in the market, while it is sold for Rs. 90 in the vaccination camps. In a conference held recently on liver and stomach related disorders, experts suggested that the Hepatitis B infection had become “more deadly” than the AIDS virus but is usually not taken as seriously. For this reason, they advocated compulsory testing of pregnant women, vaccination of new born babies and ‘HBsAg' test for school-going children and vaccination of every child found negative. Hepatitis B is a serious viral infection of the liver that affects more than two billion people all over the world. Six percent of the total population in South Asia is a carrier of the virus. In India only, there are nearly 43 million carriers. The virus is extremely resilient and is transferred through body fluids. Tattooing, ear and nose piercing with contaminated instruments, sharing of needles and syringes, contaminated blood during surgeries and blood transfusion also cause the infection. The symptoms include fever, jaundice and weight loss. In chronic carriers, it may lead to liver cirrhosis and liver failure. Most patients recover from the infection. About 5% of the affected patients become chronic carriers. The Hepatitis B vaccine is already in use in most countries of the developed world and is considered to be safe and effective when administered to both children and adults.

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