(a) whether out-dated vaccines for rabies and typhoid are being used in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether it is also a fact that chloramphenicol that had been banned in the developed countries for causing cancer is still being given to patients in the country; and
(d) if so, the response of the Government thereto?
MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI SHATRUGHAN SINHA)
(a)to(d): A statement is laid on the table of the Lok Sabha.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 222 FOR 4.12.2002
To prevent Rabies, two types of vaccines namely Neural Tissue Vaccine (NTV) and Tissue Culture Anti Rabies Vaccine (TCARV) are being produced in the country. In view of the WHO`s recommendations to prefer the use of TCARV, a decision has been taken to phase out NTV gradually.
There are three types of typhoid vaccines namely Whole Cell Killed Typhoid Vaccine (conventional typhoid vacine), Ty.21a Typhoid Vaccine and Vi-Polysaccharide Typhoid Vaccine. The production of Whole Cell Killed Typhoid Vaccine, which was stopped for some time, has been permitted in CRI, Kasauli and Haffkine Bio - Pharmaceutical Corporation, Mumbai for its limited requirement to the Defence personnel.
Neural Tissue Vaccines and Whole Cell Killed Typhoid Vaccines are officially included in the Indian Pharmacopoeia.
There is no report on banning of Chloramphenicol in developed countries. Chloramphenicol and its various dosage forms like suspension, injection, eye drops and capsules are permitted to be used in the country. The drug is also included in the Essential Drug List of the World Health Organisation.