What did you do on Sunday Mr Lokayukta?

N Santosh Hegde, who launched H1N1 vaccine developed by a private company, at a private diagnostic community, insists he did no wrong

Lokayukta N Santosh Hegde launched the much-publicised H1N1 vaccine Nasovac developed by Serum Institute of India, a private company at Isha Diagnostics, a private lab that is selling the vaccine, which costs Rs 190, for Rs 250.

Hegde sounded defensive when he was asked why he had agreed to launch a vaccine developed by a private company at a private clinic.

However, when asked why he had not advised the government to distribute the vaccine for free to general public if it was that necessary, the Lokayuta had no clear explanation.

"The issue has never come before me so I have never got the opportunity to advise the government on this. I will be the first one to say that such a vaccine should be freely available to people.
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It is worth Rs 250 but then what alternative is the government providing in this regard? How will the government answer to so many H1N1 deaths?"

Free sample

At present, the government distributes injected vaccines to all the state governments, which are given to the health personnel for free.
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In 2010, the government vaccine has been distributed in three phases in different identified hospitals across India.

But the vaccine is strictly meant for the staff working in the health departments and not for the general public.

Isha Diagnostics began by vaccinating around 290 people on the first day. The nasal spray, which can be used from above three years of age, is not for pregnant women, asthma and HIV patients.

The spray, which is given without a needle was distributed in Delhi last week and till now there has been no complaints of any side effect.

"We are charging a margin of Rs 60 on each dose because that are transportation costs and royalty issues to be kept in mind.

The response has been great and people are requesting us to distribute the vaccine on weekdays too.

We will give out the rest of the doses next Sunday," explained Chandrashekhar Majjagi, the administrator of Isha Diagnostics.

However, government officials felt the private diagnostic centre was taking the advantage of the swine flu scare.

"H1N1 does not fall under Universal Immunisation Programme so the Central government has not made mass vaccination necessary.

Since controlling H1N1 is not a case of eradication but of protection, the government does not think that mass vaccination is required," explained Dr S Chaluvaraju, head of the state H1N1 monitoring cell.

However, whether Nasovac is helpful and required remained a question with city doctors.

Commenting on the cost of the vaccine, Dr Shashdhar Buggi, director, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases, said a vaccine must be cost effective so that a common man can afford to buy, but he was skeptical about the effectiveness of Nasovac.

"It is too early to say whether this spray works or not. If it is cost effective then more people may opt for such private vaccinations. So it is difficult to say whether this is good or bad," said he.

Rs 250
The rate at which Isha Diagnostics is selling the Nasovac spray vaccine

Rs 190
Rate at which serum Institute of India in Pune sells a dose of Nasovac, the vaccine against the H1N1 virus

Rs 60
The margin earned by Isha from sale of one dose of Nasovac

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