IMA : Mass Hep B vac unnecessary in India, only benefits manufacturers.

November 8, 2006

Indian association questions plan for hepatitis B immunisation New Delhi Ganapati Mudur http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/333/7569/621-c/DC1 Circulated by the Indian Medical Association in public interest. -------------------------- This is about an article appearing in this weeks British Medical Journal about Hepatitis B vaccination in India. It is being circulated in the public interest.The article reports the findings of the Indian Medical Association, Sub-Committee on Immunization headed by Professor SK MittalIt suggests that the need for vaccination has been grossly exaggerated. Instead of the figure of 180,000 deaths annually, it says deaths from hepatocellular carcinoma due to the infection is only 5000/year. To put this in context, tuberculosis is known to cause 400,000 deaths annually in India. The report says that there is little justification for the vaccine to be included in the UIP (Universal Immunisation Programme) at a cost of over Rs 500 crores each year. There is little information from the pilot study on hepatitis B immunization done by the government. As of now the only beneficiary seems to be vaccine

manufacturers.---- EXCERPT: The Indian Medical Association has criticised a government proposal to expand universal immunisation against the hepatitis B virus throughout India, saying that it would be “wasteful spending” on a low priority health problem. In a report sent to the health ministry, the association said that a systematic review of studies indicates that the rate of chronic carriage of hepatitis B in India is 1.6% and not 4% as projected. It has also cautioned that the proposal to immunise infants at 6, 10, and 14 weeks would not significantly change rates of chronic carriers because most cases result from vertical transmission (directly from mother to baby during and after pregnancy). -------------- MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI DALIT EZHILMALAI) (a) No authentic data is available of the number of the deaths caused by Hepatitis-B infection alone. However, according to available data, the number of cases of viral Hepatitis (all types) during 1995 to 1997 (provisional) is as follows:- Year No. of Persons infected No. of persons died1995

98943 9431996 11795 4 8011997

89038 962(b) and © Hepatitis B vaccination has not been included under the National Immunization Programme as the estimated cost will be around Rs. 525 crores per annum and the measure if initiated will have to be continued indefinitely to cover all children born in the country with 3 doses. Availability of funds to sustain this over such a long period cannot be assured. Other links to educate you further http://www.imanational.com/Hepatitis/PositionPaper.htm http://www.imanational.com/Hepatitis/DiscussionHepatitis.htm http://www.imanational.com/Hepatitis/BackGroundInfo.htm http://www.imanational.com/Hepatitis/ImaDiscussion.htm After all, they (the pro-vaccine lobbyists) say to themselves, you can't make an omelette withoutbreaking eggs. But the eggs being broken are small, helpless, and innocent babies, while the omelette is being enjoyed by the pediatricians and vaccine manufacturers. - Harris

L. Coulter, PhD