India Sends Chinese-Made Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine To Flooded Province Despite Doubts
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
India's Health Ministry says it has sent Chinese-made vaccines against Japanese encephalitis to flood-hit areas of the state of Bihar to guard against an epidemic. India imported 12 million doses of the vaccine from China two years ago, relying on that country's monopoly in the market and its several drugs in development. Some doubts about the safety of the drug have been raised despite China's success in protecting 200 million Chinese children with the vaccine. The chief concern is the vaccine is based on a live attenuated virus that could multiply and recombine with local viruses, creating a new strain. An Indian-made vaccine is 1-2 years from the market, according to the health secretary. (Click here for more