Question : NATIONAL POLIO ERADICATION PROGRAMME .

(a) whether the attention of the Government has been drawn to the news-item captioned `Dead Polio Vaccine given to 35 lakh` appearing in Times of India dated November 9, 2000;

(b) if so, the facts reported therein and the reaction of the Government thereto;

(c) whether the Union Government propose to conduct an enquiry into the entire episode of polio vaccination programme in the country during 1999-2000 and 2000-2001, State-wise;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) if not, the reasons therefore?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI A. RAJA)

(a) Yes, Sir.

(b) to (e) A Statement is Annexed.

Statement referred to Parts (b),(c),(d) & (e) of Lok Sabha unstarred Question No. 1613 to be replied on 29.11.2000. A Press Report had appeared in the Delhi Edition of `Times of India` on 9th November, 2000 about alleged lack of potency of polio vaccine supplied to Ultar Pradesh. All vaccines supplied under the Immunization Programme throughout the country are tested at the National Control Laboratory, Central Research Institute, Kasauli and released for use under the Programme only if these are found satisfactory at the test. The vaccine batches that have been quoted in the Newspapers were also duly tested before release to Uttar Pradesh. It has also been ascertained that vaccines with Vaccine Vial Monitors (VVM) in Grade I stage only were sent to Uttar Pradesh. The VVM is a sure indicator of the potency of the vaccines. Experts from WHO have advised that once the use of VVM has been made universal, it is not really necessary to continue the previous practice of collecting and analyzing field samples. However, the Government is continuing the field sample testing as a measure of abundant caution.
The vaccine batches in question were actually supplied to Uttar Pradesh on 1-2 November 1999 for use during the Pulse Polio Immunization Day to be conducted on .21st November 1999. However, some unused quantity of this vaccine was stored at Moradabad. It has also been ascertained that no such vaccine has been sent to Meerut as indicated in the news-item.
Before September 2000, field samples from Uttar Pradesh including Moradabad were collected and tested by the apex Government Laboratory, National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), Delhi and reports from NICD indicated that a high percentage of the field samples were found satisfactory. Recently, the National Institute of Biologicals (NIB), NOIDA was entrusted with the job of analyzing the field samples from UP 23% of the samples from the field tested in this institute have revealed low potency.
The State Government of U.P. has been advised to collect samples again from Moradabad, preferably from the same batches, if these arc still available, and get them tested again in another laboratory.