Thaindian News

New Delhi, July 14 (IANS) The recently launched indigenous swine flu vaccine seems to be in short supply at chemist shops in Delhi at a time when the deadly disease has claimed three lives in the city this year.
“The vaccines are not yet available in chemist shops as it is a drug which requires a licence for keeping it in shops,” Kailash Gupta, President of All Delhi Chemist Association told IANS.

The first indigenous vaccine against swine flu manufactured by pharmaceutical giant Zydus Cadila was launched last month by union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

At the time of its launch, the health minister claimed that the vaccine will be available in market from the very next day. However, this does not seem to have happened.

“The vaccine is from a category of drug for which a record has to be maintained about the doses sold and a duplicate copy of the bill is also to be kept, this is why a licence is needed,” said Gupta.

The vaccine VaxiFlu-S costs Rs.390 and chemists said its cost was being seen as a reason for it unpopularity.

Delhi government officials said that the vaccine will shortly be available in the market.

“The vaccine is presently undergoing the fourth phase of trial, after that it will be available in the market,” senior Delhi health Department official Devashish Bhattacharya told IANS.

Delhi saw another swine flu death Tuesday when a man died in capital’s Ram Manohar Lohia hospital. The death took the toll due to the flu to three this year.

Last year, Delhi reported nearly 9,698 cases of swine flu, the highest number compared to the figures of other states while the number of deaths was 95.