The health ministry will be re-introducing the Pentavalent vaccine in June next year. The vaccine was launched in September last year. But a month later it was suspended after eight babies died following the launch of the nation-wide vaccination.
Despite WHO confirming that the death of nine babies were not linked to the Pentavalent vaccine, rumours are still afloat that the vaccine had caused the death. Officials of the health ministry met the local media today to re-affirm that the vaccine is safe for use.
Dr. Ugyen Dophu said the vaccine is tested and found safe.
Health officials said the prevalence of Meningitis and Meningo Encephalitis was reported even after the vaccine was suspended. The hospital received 13 such cases.
The health minister, Lyonpo Zangley Dukpa said annually 200-300 cases of Meningitis and Pneumonia are recorded out of which 50-60 die of the disease. This he said affects in achieving Millennium Development Goal.
The ministry denied public allegation of corruption between the officials of the ministry and the vaccine company.
Dr. Ugyen Dophu said that the health ministry procures only about 40,000 doses of the vaccine every year. This does not make much difference for the manufacturing company.
The vaccine protects babies from five diseases: Diptheria, Tetanus, Whooping cough, Hepatitis B, and Haemphilus Influenza B.
