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This is an archive article published on July 29, 2010

Vaccine wastage: ICMR chief to meet health minister to sort out issue

In the last three years,over 30 lakh doses of Japanese Encephalitis vaccines supplied by the Centre have gone waste in the state following the state government’s refusal to use it.

In the last three years,over 30 lakh doses of Japanese Encephalitis vaccines supplied by the Centre have gone waste in the state following the state government’s refusal to use it. The stock,the state claimed,was “below standard” and “unusable”.

Another 15 lakh doses have been wasted too — its date of expiry was July 24. The stock was meant to be used for the special JE drive in eastern Uttar Pradesh,but state had refused to use it,alleging that it was unfit.

The Union health ministry has asked the state in writing about the reasons for not conducting the special drive and not using the 15 lakh doses sent in May. The letter was sent a week ago by Centre’s Assistant Commissioner,Immunisation,said an official from the Union health ministry.

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Dr VM Katoch,Director General,Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) will be meeting state Health Minister Anant Kumar Mishra on Thursday to sort out the issue.

A few days ago,Katoch had visited Eastern Uttar Pradesh toaccess the ground situation and met the health staff in Gorakhpur district.

The state government,however,maintains that the matter has been sorted out.

“There are no pending issues with the Centre now,” said

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Pradeep Shukla,Principal Secretary,Medical and Health. “There was a letter,but during the recent visit of Katoch to eastern Uttar Pradesh,everything has been discussed in detail,” he added,admitting that Katoch will meet the state health minister.

“The date for expiry of the stock sent in May was July 24 and so,we wanted to know about the status of the campaign,” said the Union health ministry official. “The state government did not reply and now the entire stock has been wasted.”

The stock sent was usable,but the state government did not use it,he said. “They said only a part of it was usable but they did not even utilise that and merely decided to keep it with them,leading to the wastage of the entire stock. Now,Katoch is personally looking into the matter.”

Over 100 children have succumbed to encephalitis in eastern Uttar Pradesh so far and over 500 cases have been reported.

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