The Hindu Business Line : Serum launches DTP/Hepatitis B combination vaccine

SERUM Institute of India Ltd, the country's largest vaccine manufacturer, has launched its combination vaccine Q-Vac for DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) and Hepatitis B.

Priced at Rs 50 per dose, Serum's vaccine is one-fourth the cost of similar products available in the market, the company said. Q-Vac immunisation for a child will reduce the number of injections to three, from the six administered at present.

Dr Cyrus Poonawalla, Chairman, said that its combination vaccine Q-Vac was 75 per cent less than multinational prices. "Use of Q-Vac is comfortable for both the child and parents as it reduces the number of painful pricks that a child has to bear and makes immunisation more affordable without pinching the parent's pockets," he said.

Q-Vac is to be administered to children in the sixth, 10th and 14th week after birth. Though MNC combination vaccines have been available in India, high prices kept the vaccine out of reach for the majority, a note from Serum said.

Separate injections of DTP and Hepatitis-B cost Rs 45 respectively and the MNC combination vaccine costs Rs 225 per dose, the note said. Serum has also conducted clinical trials of Q-Vac. Serum recently received the corporate philanthropy award and Dr Poonawalla was given the humanitarian award by Sabin Vaccine Institute, USA, for providing quality vaccines at affordable prices, the note added.

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