Pentavalent vaccine introduced in eight states: Harsh Vardhan

Pentavalent vaccine has been introduced in eight states and will be expanded to 12 states, including Telangana, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said Friday.

Pentavalent is a conjugate vaccine that combines antigens against five infections - diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus (DPT), hepatitis B and Hib - in one shot.

The pentavalent vaccine has been introduced in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry, Goa, Karnataka, Gujarat, Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir, Harsh Vardhan said in the Lok Sabha.

The vaccine will be expanded to 12 other states, including all the districts of Telangana.

He said the post introduction evaluation (PIE) studies for the vaccine have been conducted in eight states.

The evaluation showed that preparations for roll out of the new vaccine should begin early, at least three to four months in advance of the actual vaccine launch.

It also showed that existing routine immunization plans should be revised to include high-risk areas and migratory and non-migratory settlements.