Hyderabad, June 05: Influenza H1N1 A, popularly known as swine flu, may not be as scary and risky as it did when it first started spreading in the state during August last year. With India’s first indigenously manufactured vaccine (VaxifluS) available in major medical stores since yesterday, denizens of the State can take a sigh of relief.
The Gujaratbased Cadila Healthcare developed the indigenously manufactured VaxifluS, an eggbased and inactivated vaccine using conventional technology. A single dose of the vaccine is available in all major medical stores at Rs 390. However, the vaccine will be sold only on recommendation of a certified doctor to people falling under risk groups. “The decision to restrict the preliminary batches to risk groups was due to unavailability of bulk stocks. However, there will be adequate stock to cater to the needs of all age groups within the next two months,” sources said.
According to officials, the risk group includes pregnant and postnatal women, children aged below 10 years and senior citizens (aged above 60 years) apart from people with chronic diseases with minimal disease resistance. Though the vaccine is only available in the form of an injection, major companies like Serum Institute of India are expected to launch their nasal spray along with injectionbased vaccine within the next two weeks. The Hyderabadbased Bharat Biotech Limited and Panacea Biotech of New Delhi are also expected to launch their indigenously manufactured H1N1 vaccine by the end of August.
—Agencies