Fri Dec 13 18:59:17 UTC 2024: ## Tamil Nadu Rebuts Vaccine Shortage Claims, Assures Adequate Supply

**Chennai, December 14, 2024** – The Tamil Nadu Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (DPH) has refuted claims of a Hepatitis B and Pentavalent vaccine shortage, stating that ample supplies are available at government healthcare facilities. A press release issued yesterday confirmed that 5.19 lakh doses of Hepatitis B and 4.63 lakh doses of Pentavalent vaccines were in stock as of December 12th.

While acknowledging the state’s projected requirement of 9.73 lakh and 29.20 lakh doses of Hepatitis B and Pentavalent vaccines respectively for 2024-2025, the DPH highlighted the current surplus. Director T.S. Selvavinayagam emphasized that Tamil Nadu maintains a 99% immunization coverage rate under the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP), benefiting over 9.58 lakh pregnant women and 8.76 lakh children annually. He cited 99% coverage for Hepatitis B vaccine (administered to 5.63 lakh of 5.68 lakh babies) and 94% for Pentavalent vaccine (5.47 lakh of 5.84 lakh children) from April to November 2024.

The DPH’s statement directly contradicts a recent report by the Doctors’ Association for Social Equality, which had flagged a six-month shortage of Hepatitis B vaccine in government hospitals across the state. Selvavinayagam clarified that measures are in place to supply vaccines to 32 private hospitals through eVIN and U-WIN platforms, and that all District Health Officers have been instructed to provide free UIP vaccines to private facilities in need. He reiterated that all Primary Health Centres and government hospitals have sufficient vaccine stock.

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