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Encephalitis, Japanese - India Imports Chinese Vaccine

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  • Encephalitis, Japanese - India Imports Chinese Vaccine

    Should have read: India Imports Chinese Vaccine. Sorry for the confusing title. [Edited by T42.]

    I thought I read somewhere that the Chinese and Indians were using a vaccine against avian H5N1 also. I hope it wasn't developed and tested the same way as the JE vaccine.

    India News
    Posted on 24 Apr 2006

    JE vaccine import raises controversy

    New Delhi: The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) has found that the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) had permitted the import of the Chinese Encephalitis vaccine even without conducting phase-II clinical trials.

    GEAC has said the Chinese vaccine "made from a live attenuated virus called SA-1414-2 could multiply in vector mosquitoes" and recombine with local viruses resulting in creation of "recombinant" viruses with unknown characteristics.

    As such, the DCGI should have referred the matter to the GEAC in view of the associated environmental risks, GEAC said in a statement available on its website.

    The GEAC, which comes under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, pointed out that the rules 1989 of the Environmental Protection Act cover not only recombinant product but also hazardous micro-organisms for which environmental clearance should first come from GEAC before import is authorized.

    The Japanese Encephalitis (JE) virus like the dengue virus belongs to the class of viruses known as "flavivirus," the committee observed.

    Noting that "plenty of flavivirus activity" is prevalent in our country, the committee pointed out there is always the risk of the Chinese vaccine virus combining with wild-type flaviviruses in India "resulting in recombinants with novel properties." The committee has asked DCGI to "clarify" whether these environmental concerns "have been taken into consideration by the DCGI while according approval for import of the Chinese Encephalitis vaccine."
    Last edited by Theresa42; May 11, 2006, 09:48 PM. Reason: Change of title per KC's suggestion :)
    "Predictable is Preventable" by Safety Expert Dr. Gordon Graham.

  • #2
    Re: India Imports Chinese Vaccine

    They are going ahead with the controversial vaccine, even after the concerns expressed by some experts.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------

    Medical officers? leave cancelled
    Hindustan Times Correspondent
    Lucknow, May 10


    THE HEALTH Department has planned to launch an immunisation drive in seven districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh from mid-May to protect children from the killer Japanese Encephalitis.

    The leave of all the medical officers and employees deputed in the immunisation drive in the seven districts has been cancelled. Those who are on leave have been directed to report on duty immediately.

    The medical officers and employees who wish to take medical leave will have to submit a medical certificate and they will be permitted to proceed on leave only after the second opinion of the chief medical officer of the district concerned.

    Director General, Medical Health, Dr B Nath said in the first phase, the immunisation drive would be launched in Gorakhpur, Maharajganj, Kushinagar and Kheri districts. In the second phase, the drive would be extended to Siddharth Nagar and Sant Kabir Nagar districts.

    Nath said the consignment of vaccines would be supplied to the State by the Union Government by May 14.

    The immunisation drive would be launched immediately and all the children in the age group of one to 15 years in the seven districts would be covered.

    The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has already decided to import the single dose tissue culture Chinese vaccine called 'SA14-14-2' for the vaccination..

    This vaccine is being used in the country for the first time. A single dose of the vaccine will be administered to all the children.

    To maintain the quality of the immunisation programme, the Health Department has planned to closely monitor the vaccination drive.

    Observers would be deputed in all the districts, Dr Nath said.

    Dr LP Rawat and Dr Awadesh Kumar have been deputed as observers in Gorakhpur district, Dr ML Khatloiya and Dr Uma Kant Prasad in Maharajganj, Dr Janki Prasad and Dr AK Awasthi in Kushinagar, Dr JS Chawla and Dr RS Diwakar in Deoria and Dr SP Ram and Dr AK Mishra have been deputed as observers in Lakhompur Kheri district.
    "Predictable is Preventable" by Safety Expert Dr. Gordon Graham.

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