Centre left with no vaccines for Haj pilgrims

The Union health ministry is in a fix as it has no oral polio vaccines for Haj pilgrims. The only manufacturer of these vaccines was asked to stop production last year after a batch was found contaminated.

In January, the ministry had asked all states to postpone the pulse polio programme, without mentioning a new date. While no reason was cited for the deferment, it is believed the decision was linked to the shutdown of the government-authorised pharma firm, Biomed.

Nearly 1.27 lakh people are expected to go for the annual Haj pilgrimage in July for which the ministry will have to provide at least 1.47 lakh doses. 

Those going to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage are required to submit a certificate, proving that the vaccine was administered no more than 3 years ago and no less than 10 days before arrival in the country.

The Centre is already in talks with two firms that import the vaccines, health ministry sources said. Earlier, the government paid Rs 250 per dose, but importing the medicine will drive up the cost to Rs 1,500 for one dose, they said.