Many private hospitals in T.N. hit by acute shortage of Hepatitis B vaccine
Private hospitals across the State have been facing a shortage of Hepatitis B vaccine over the past few months. The fall in supplies has made it difficult for many hospitals to vaccinate adults at risk, especially those on dialysis.
Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for infants under the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP), and for adults at risk such as healthcare providers and people with compromised immune systems. Inquiries with doctors in a number of districts, including Madurai, Tiruchi, Chennai, Erode, and Theni, revealed that there is a shortage of vaccines in many private centres.
A doctor in Madurai said, 'We had reached a point where we were left with very few doses of the vaccine. We could not vaccinate newborn children, but got support from government facilities. We received a supply recently, but the quantity does not meet our demand. There has been an acute shortage of the vaccine for the last seven to eight months, and we are unsure of the reason. We have been continuously raising the issue with the manufacturer almost every week.'
Multi-dose vials, which have 10 doses each, are used for healthcare workers since it is cost-effective, whereas, single dose vials are used for patients, she said.
'This is mainly recommended for patients visiting nephrology and oncology departments. Due to acute shortage for a few months, we could not vaccinate them,' she added.
Doctors in Erode pointed out the difficulty in vaccinating healthcare workers and patients on dialysis due to limited stock, as well as the increase in the cost of vaccines.
A year ago, the Chennai Liver Foundation wrote to the vaccine manufacturing company on the poor supply of vaccines. A little later, vaccines were supplied, prioritising the pentavalent ones meant for UIP, while those for adult usage trickled in now and then, according to Vivekanandan Shanmugam, its managing trustee. 'We wrote to the Government of India and they, in response, acknowledged the short supply. They said vaccines would be supplied prioritising the pentavalent doses, and those for the high-risk population. We are not sure when this issue will be sorted out,' he said.
Survey to check availability
There is a real shortage, and that is why the foundation has sent a survey form to all practitioners and gastroenterologists across India to assess the availability of the vaccine in their centres, Dr. Vivekanandan says, adding: 'This is a gross problem as vaccination is crucial to prevent liver cancers. The World Health Organisation recommends Hepatitis B testing and vaccination for all adults. But given the situation, we should try to test and vaccinate at least those at high risk such as healthcare workers, child-bearing women considering the risk of transmission from mother to child, immune-compromised persons, and those with co-infections such as HIV.'
A government doctor said there was increased dependency on the government sector as private hospitals in tier-2 cities and semi-urban areas were facing the shortage of vaccines.
Another government doctor added that while the vaccine was freely available for the UIP, they were using the buffer stock for vaccinating patients such as those on dialysis.
T.S. Selvavinayagam, Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, said the government sector faced no challenges with procuring the vaccine. 'We have 6.34 lakh doses. This is mainly for healthcare workers. Considering our monthly requirement of around 81,000 doses, this stock will last seven to eight months. We also have 2.62 lakh doses of pentavalent vaccine, which is part of the UIP. The pentavalent contains Hepatitis B, and we have supplies that will last over 1.5 months,' he said.
He added that if there was any issue with the availability of vaccines in the private sector, people could reach out to Primary Health Centres, where vaccination would be provided as per the UIP schedule for free.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
28 out of 33 districts in Telangana have higher concentration of fluoride in groundwater: Report
Over 36% of Indian districts or 263 out of the total 722 districts in the country now have groundwater concentration of fluoride that is higher than the permissible 1.5 mg/L. The number of districts with high concentration of fluoride in water (1.5 mg/L) has increased from 207 in 2017 to 263 in 2023. These are some of the findings of the National Ground Water report released recently. One of the findings in the report is about the surge in fluoride concentration in groundwater that is linked to overexploitation. The Bureau of Indian Standards recommends an upper desirable limit of 1.0 mg/L of fluoride in drinking water, which can be extended to 1.5 mg/L in case no alternative source of water is available. Higher concentration of fluoride in drinking water is linked to a host of debilitating diseases like waterborne fluorosis, dental and skeletal fluorosis. It can cause staining of tooth enamel, while higher concentrations (5.0 to 10 mg/L) can lead to pathological changes like stiffness of the spine and difficulty in natural movement. This significant increase in the percentage of locations has been mainly contributed by states like Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and Telangana. 'The concentration of chemicals is increasing as we are digging deeper borewells across the country. There is increasing water stress and this is translating into higher extraction of groundwater. A spoonful of salt will be less salty in a full glass of water, it will be more salty as the quantity of water declines,' says K. Laxma, Director, Telangana Ground Water department explaining the rise in fluoride concentration in groundwater. 'Groundwater Over-Extraction (Anthropogenic Influence) is a significant factor exacerbating fluoride contamination, particularly in the southern and western States known for over-exploitation,' says the Annual Ground Water Report 2024 released by the Government of India. This is borne out by the fact that the post-monsoon sampling showed a drop in concentration of fluoride. 'The monsoon recharge appears to have had a dilution effect on the fluoride concentrations in groundwater across all the States, as reflected by the significant number of samples showing improvement in fluoride levels after recharge,' according to the report. Out of the 33 districts in Telangana, 28 have anomalous values of Fluoride (> 1.5 mg/L) in groundwater at one or more locations. Only Rajasthan has 31 districts with higher values of fluoride. The most severely affected States, with more than 10% of their water samples exceeding the permissible fluoride limit, include Rajasthan (43.17%), Haryana (23.66%), Karnataka (17.68%), Telangana (14.87%), Gujarat (13.92%), Punjab (13.77%) and Andhra Pradesh (11.31%). The monsoon season has a positive dilution effect on fluoride concentrations. In 2023, the percentage of samples exceeding 1.5 mg/L decreased from 9.14% in pre-monsoon to 7.74% in post-monsoon. In Telangana, out of the samples analysed in 2023, the percentage of locations exceeding 1.5 mg/L fluoride decreased from 20% in pre-monsoon to 15.49% in post-monsoon.
Hans India
7 hours ago
- Hans India
WHO declares Kenya free of sleeping sickness
Nairobi: The World Health Organisation (WHO) certified Kenya as having eliminated human African trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, as a public health challenge, making it the 10th country to reach this critical milestone. "I congratulate the government and people of Kenya on this landmark achievement," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a statement issued in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital. "Kenya joins the growing ranks of countries freeing their populations of human African trypanosomiasis. This is another step toward making Africa free of neglected tropical diseases," Tedros added. Human African trypanosomiasis is the second neglected tropical disease to be eliminated in Kenya, following the country's certification as Guinea worm disease-free in 2018. The disease is caused by protozoan parasites transmitted by infected tsetse flies, according to the WHO. Symptoms include fever, headaches, joint pain, and, in advanced stages, neurological symptoms like confusion, disrupted sleep patterns, and behavioral changes. Aden Duale, Kenya's cabinet secretary for health, said the WHO validation of sleeping sickness elimination marked a historic step toward enhancing public health security in the country, fostering economic growth. Kenya detected the first case of sleeping sickness in the early 20th century and has since engaged in robust mitigation activities. The last two exported cases were detected in 2012 in the world-famous Maasai Mara National Reserve, Xinhua news agency reported. In recent years, the country has enhanced sleeping sickness surveillance in 12 health facilities across six historically endemic counties, which serve as sentinel sites. This effort is complemented by the use of modern diagnostic tools and the training of personnel to avert new transmission. Abdourahmane Diallo, the WHO representative in Kenya, said forward-looking leadership and partnerships were pivotal in accelerating progress toward sleeping sickness elimination in the East African country. Human African trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, is a vector-borne parasitic disease. It is caused by protozoans of the genus Trypanosoma, transmitted to humans by bites of tsetse flies (glossina) which have acquired the parasites from infected humans or animals. Tsetse flies inhabit sub-Saharan Africa and only certain species transmit the disease. Rural populations which depend on agriculture, fishing, animal husbandry or hunting are the most exposed. In many regions where tsetse flies are found, HAT is not. The disease has a focal distribution ranging from single villages to entire regions, and the incidence can vary from one village to the next.
Indian Express
8 hours ago
- Indian Express
Can I eat instant noodles every day? What does it do to my health?
By Lauren Ball Can you survive, and thrive, on a daily diet of instant noodles? Let's explore what's in an average pack, what that means for our health, and how to make noodles part of a more balanced meal. Affordable, versatile, and culturally important Instant noodles are incredibly accessible. A single serving is very cheap, can take just a few minutes to prepare and fill you up. They're easy to store, have a long shelf life, and are available in almost every supermarket or corner shop. For many international students and migrants, they're a familiar taste in an unfamiliar place. A packet of Maggi mi goreng, a bowl of Shin Ramyun, or a serving of Indomie can instantly transport someone back to a childhood kitchen, a bustling night market, or a late-night supper with friends. These dishes aren't just quick meals – they hold memory, identity, and belonging. In a new environment, they offer both a full belly and a sense of home. While instant noodles offer comfort and familiarity, their nutritional profile has room for improvement. A standard packet of instant noodles is made from wheat flour noodles and a packet of flavour enhancers. Some fancier versions also include dried vegetables or crispy fried garlic. On average, though, most packets are very high in salt: a typical serving can contain 600–1,500mg of sodium, which is close to or even above your recommended daily intake (the World Health Organisation recommends less than 2,000mg sodium/day). Over time, high sodium intake can strain the heart and kidneys. Because they're usually made from refined wheat (not wholegrains), instant noodles typically do not contain much fibre. Dietary fibre is important to help keep your digestion regular and support a healthy gut. Instant noodles are also low in protein. You will feel full right after eating instant noodles because of the refined carbohydrates, but without added eggs, tofu or meat as a source of protein, that fullness will be short-lived. You will be hungry again soon after. They are also low in nutrients such as vitamins and minerals. These matter because they help your body function properly and stay healthy. Occasional instant noodles won't harm you. But if they become your main source of nutrition, research suggests some potential longer-term concerns. A study of South Korean adults found that frequent instant noodle consumption (more than twice a week) was associated with a higher risk of metabolic syndrome, especially among women. Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions that together raise your risk of heart disease, diabetes and other health issues. While this study doesn't prove that instant noodles directly cause health concerns, it suggests that what we eat regularly can affect our health over time. High sodium intake is linked to increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. Noodles have been linked to higher rates of metabolic syndrome, likely because of the sodium content. Most Australians already exceed recommended sodium limits, with processed foods as the main contributor. Low fibre diets are also associated with poor gut health, constipation, and higher risk of type 2 diabetes and bowel cancer. A lack of variety in meals can mean missing out on important nutrients found in vegetables, legumes, fruits and wholegrains. These nutrients help protect your health in the long term. If noodles are on high rotation in your kitchen, there's no need to toss them out completely. Instead, you can upgrade your bowl with a few easy additions, by: adding vegetables (toss in a handful of frozen peas, spinach, broccoli, carrots or whatever's on hand to bump up your fibre, vitamins and texture) including protein (add a boiled or fried egg, tofu cubes, edamame beans, shredded chicken or tinned beans to help you stay full longer and support muscle and immune health) cutting back on the flavour sachet (these are often the main source of salt, so try using half or less of the sachet or mixing in low-sodium stock, garlic, ginger, herbs or chilli instead) trying wholegrain or air-dried noodles (some brands now offer higher-fibre options made with buckwheat, brown rice or millet, so check the ingredients on the back of the packet to see the main source of grain). Not at all. Like most foods, instant noodles can fit into a healthy diet, just not as the main event every day. Think of your body like a car. Instant noodles are like fuel which can give you enough to get you moving, but not enough to keep the engine running smoothly over time. Noodles definitely have a place in busy lives and diverse kitchens. With a few pantry staples and simple tweaks, you can keep the comfort and convenience, while also adding a whole lot more nourishment.
