Much to the respite of travelers planning to travel to Africa from India, Indian government has received a consignment 60,000 yellow fever vaccine doses through WHO.

New Delhi, July 23/Nationalturk – After facing severe shortage of yellow fever vaccine for nearly four months, Indian government has received a consignment 60,000 yellow fever vaccine doses through WHO, much to the respite of travelers planning to travel to Africa from India.

Yellow fever (YF) disease is endemic in 44 countries in the world. 23 countries are in African continent and 11 countries in South American continent. India is, however, free from yellow fever disease. Passengers visiting endemic countries can get protection by immunization by yellow fever vaccine.

All the 27 yellow fever vaccination centres in India authorised by Indian government to provide YF vaccinations and issue WHO approved certificates were short of yellow fever vaccines since March this year.

Yellow fever vaccines were short in India since March 2013

An Indian government spokesman admitting that all YF vaccination centres were facing shortage of yellow fever vaccines since March. “It was due to break-down of equipment and interruption in supply of importation through WHO due to global shortage”.

The yellow fever vaccine is compulsory for all those travelling to African nations, after WHO held a consultation on yellow fever saying the threat of introduction of yellow fever into Asia was very real in the age of faster air travel.

There were reports that the vaccine was being sold in the black market by private retailers, leading to problems for those travelling to African nations.

“Indian government placed an order with WHO for total requirement of 0.257 million doses (including balance requirement for 2012-13 and 2013-14). This supply order is yet to be received. As per WHO supplies are expected in India in second week of August,” Indian health ministry spokesman said.

He said the Indian government have procured supply of 60,000 doses (10 dose vial), the order of which was placed in April 2013.

Supplies arrived, tested

“The supplies have arrived and samples were sent for quality control certification on July 18. The report has been received and Yellow fever vaccine has been supplied to all the Yellow fever vaccination centres in four metros of the country,” the spokesman said.

He said regular vaccination at all the centres run by India government is expected to be normal within this week.

A single dose of 0.5 ml vaccine provides lifelong immunity and repeated visits do not require fresh vaccinations. The total annual demand of yellow fever vaccine in India is around 0.18 million doses.

With the drug now available at all YF vaccination centres, the people intending to travel to Africa can now heave sigh of relief as they won’t have to face inconveniences any more.

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Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk India News

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