The Director General of Andhra Pradesh Drugs Control Administration  (AP DCA) has, in an affidavit to the Andhra Pradesh High Court, stressed the need for an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the administration of Abhay-M measles vaccine. This followed the reported deaths of children in various parts of the country after the administration of the vaccine.

The vaccine is manufactured by Hyderabad-based Human Biologicals Institute, a division of Indian Immunologicals. Citing various “discrepancies” in the manufacturing of the vaccine, the administration had ordered the company to stop production of measles vaccine. However, an inspection carried out by a team from Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) had given a clean chit to the company. Also the company received a stay order from the Andhra Pradesh High Court against the proceedings of the department.

Denying the “discrepancies” in manufacturing of the vaccine, the company had earlier said that the Central Drugs Laboratory, Kasauli tested the samples of the measles vaccine drawn from its manufacturing facility as well as the field and reported that they are of standard quality.