Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the acute shortage of Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) in Government and Private hospitals and if so, the details thereof, State/ UT-wise including Kerala;
(b) whether the shortage of above polio vaccine is likely to leave many children unimmunized against type 2 polio virus, if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to check the shortage of the above vaccine?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)
(a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the House
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 194* FOR 29TH JULY, 2016
(a) As a part of World Health Organisation (WHO) Polio Eradication and Polio endgame strategic Plan 2013-2017, the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE), the world’s chief policy guidance body for immunization, in 2012 recommended the withdrawal of the type 2 component of oral polio vaccine (OPV) from routine immunization programmes in all countries, facilitated by the introduction of at least one dose of Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV). Accordingly 106 countries including India introduced IPV. WHO and partners were to enhance global supplies of IPV, but the global production of IPV could not be scaled up, resulting in global shortage of IPV. However, this reduced supply to government at present has not resulted in shortage of IPV to the State/UTs under the universal Immunization Programme. As per provisional reports, till June 2016, a total of 95,94,225 doses of IPV have been supplied to the States/UTs which is more than total children vaccinated so far i.e. 61,25,971 which indicates that there is no shortage of IPV. (The State/UT-wise details are annexed).
(b) In view of the above, the question of children remaining unimmunized against type 2 polio virus due to shortage of IPV does not arise.
(c) Following steps are being taken to check the shortage of IPV:
• States/UTs are provided IPV vaccine on a monthly basis based on monthly performance report.
• Multi dose IPV vaccine vial once open is reused for subsequent sessions as per the laid down guideline to minimize the vaccine wastage without compromising on the safety aspect of the programme.
• Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has supported public sector manufacturer for technology transfer of IPVs based on the Sabin strains from WHO. This will further augment domestic production in the future resulting in more production of IPV at affordable prices.