Karnal Govt hospitals reels under shortage of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines

Karnal: Due to an irregular supply of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) by the Centre, the Government hospitals in the Karnal district of Haryana are reeling under a shortage of the vaccine which has affected the vaccination schedule of children in the district for the past few months. 

According to sources in the department, out of the required number of 73,000 doses, the district had only received 41,750 doses since April. It is not able to manage the monthly requirement of 7000 doses, since it is only receiving around 4000-5000 doses per month. 

Also Read:Pan India rollout of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine will reduce child mortality by 60 percent: Health Minister

The shortage in vaccines is causing parents to skip the vaccination date or purchase from the market personally, which costs them something from Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,500. The sources stated that other parts of the area are going through a similar shortage and it is not only Karnal. 

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had rolled out the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) with an aim to protect children from pneumonia and reduce child mortality due to pneumonia by around 60%. Under the UIP, immunization is provided free of cost against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases which also includes Pneumococcal Pneumonia for which the Vaccine was rolled out. 

Earlier, the state used to acquire the vaccine on their own which is now supplied by the centre under the UIP. The most affected are the vaccination centres in rural areas which have a poorer supply as compared to the supply in urban vaccination centres. Many parents have complained about being unable to get their children vaccinated due to the shortage of vaccine, reports the Tribune India. 

One parent, Sachin Kumar said, "I have been making rounds of the vaccination centre, but have been told that the vaccine is not available." Dr Yogesh Sharma, Civil Surgeon stated, "We are getting the supply but the demand is higher than the arrival. We are sending requisition for regular demand. We are hopeful, the supply will be regular in the coming days." 

Stating that a manufacturing issue has caused a shortage in vaccination supply, Dr Virender Ahlawat, State Nodal Officer (Immunisation) said, "We are hopeful that in the coming fortnight, the situation will get normal." 

According to the national immunisation schedule, a child needs three shots of the PCV as a measure of protection against pneumonia till they turn nine months old, with the first shot to be given at six weeks of age, the second shot at 14 weeks and a booster shot given at nine months old. 

A similar situation was reported from various government health facilities in Tamil Nadu a few months back, which were also running short of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs). The Health Department staff, including doctors and nurses, in parts of Chennai, Chengalpattu, Thanjavur, Tiruchi, Cuddalore and Nagapattinam had confirmed the shortage.

However, the Medical Dialogues team in October this year reported about an official response from the side of Union health ministry who had stated that there is no shortage of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) in the country, and media reports claiming its shortage is "ill-informed." The report, which quoted health officials, including Maharashtra's State Immunisation Officer, stated that a tendering delay has led to the disruption in pneumococcal vaccination schedules of tens of thousands of children across the country for over a month.

Also Read:No shortage of Pneumococcal vaccines, informs Union Health Ministry