Serum Institute of India Ltd, India's largest vaccine manufacturer, launched its indigenously developed HIB vaccine. Serum Institute has a capacity to produce over 100 million doses of the vaccine. It will supply this new age vaccine to GAVI (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation), PAHO (Pan American Health Organization) and UNICEF.
According to Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla, chairman, "With HIB vaccine, Serum Institute achieves one more milestone in its quest for providing high quality vaccines at affordable prices. Serum Institute is the only indigenous manufacturers of HIB vaccine in India today unlike other vaccine manufacturers who import the bulk. HIB vaccine is fully manufactured in India. Serum Institute has invested significantly in R&D and these efforts are yielding results."
HIB vaccines are used for prevention of infection caused by invasive HIB disease which is amongst the leading causes of infant mortality in the developing world. HIB vaccine is given to infants along with DPT or alone. Earlier efforts by UNICEF for HIB immunization met with little success as the prices were very high, which led to limited access of the vaccine in many poor countries. Today infant mortality due to the invasive HIB disease is an important issue for WHO.
Serum Institute will supply the HIB vaccine at a low price compared to the MNC prices. It has established its credentials, by providing quality vaccines to global healthcare agencies, thereby reducing mortality rates due to illnesses like Measles. The company's products are exported to over 140 countries worldwide.