The Delhi High Court Wednesday asked
the government to file its reply on a plea by a former Union
Health Secretary and some medical professionals to stop
introduction of Pentavalent vaccine in public health system as
the concerned ministry has not done a proper study.
A division bench headed by the Chief Justice A P Shah
directed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, National
Technical Advisory Group of Immunization and Indian Council of
Medical Research to file their replies.
The petitioners told the court that there are serious
concerns about the introduction of Pentavalent which combines
basic EPI vaccines with non-EPI vaccines.
"...despite this, the government is planning to introduce
this vaccine which would be a disaster for the immunization in
the public health system," submitted the petitioners.
Under Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI), the
government is to provide six primary vaccines BCG, DPT, DT,
TT, measles and polio.
The petitioners further submitted that new evidence from
Canada has come that Pentavalent vaccine used for several
years has shown that here is no real benefit to children.
"Pentavalent vaccine was introduced in Bhutan but
withdrawn after 8 deaths in October 2009. Earlier, it was
withdrawn from Sri Lanka after 25 serious adverse reactions
and 5 deaths," they submitted further.
They further submitted the government is functioning in a
"disjointed and uncoordinated manner" and is under pressure
from international organizations like WHO.
PTI