Out of stock: Chickenpox, typhoid, hepatitis B vaccines not available in the market

President of the chemists council says measles vaccine is being smuggled into the country from India

KARACHI:

Chemists and doctors claim that chickenpox, typhoid, measles and rubella vaccines are out of stock in the country.

According to several paediatricians and parents, this isn't new as there has been an acute shortage of vaccines in the market for the last six months. They worry that this might lead to complications or more illnesses among the children.

Many believe that this is a deliberate attempt to increase the demand and make money. They want authorities to take immediate action and ensure availability of all vaccines. "The vaccine should not be out of stock in any season," said Prof Dr Iqbal A Memon, the president of the Pakistan Paediatric Association. "These vaccines are being used for the children."



Prof Memon said that many families had asked him to suggest ways to get hold of the vaccines. "The shortage is not only in Karachi but all over Pakistan," he explained, adding that vaccines for chickenpox, typhoid and measles had not been in the market for the last five to six months.

Pharmacists confirmed that most of the vaccines were out of stock and claimed that the blame lay with the distributors for not providing them with the required amount of medicine on time.

"Creating a shortage of vaccines is a deliberate attempt to increase prices," said Ghulam Noorani, the president of the Karachi Wholesale Chemists Council. "These vaccines are available to some doctors who have good contacts with the distributors." He added that the measles vaccine was being smuggled in from India. This, he said, is a standard practice as many wholesalers have to maintain the market and usually bring in medicines from neighbouring countries at cheaper rates.

According to Prof Memon, the hepatitis B vaccine for children was also not available in the market. The influenza vaccine, which become useful as the weather changes and is in high demand, is also not easily available these days, confirmed Noorani.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 1^st, 2014.