Fri Dec 13 18:59:17 UTC 2024: ## Tamil Nadu Reassures Public: Ample Supply of Hepatitis B and Pentavalent Vaccines

**Chennai, December 14, 2024** – The Tamil Nadu Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (DPH) has issued a statement assuring the public that there is no shortage of Hepatitis B and Pentavalent vaccines in the state. Following concerns raised by the Doctors’ Association for Social Equality regarding a potential shortage, the DPH clarified that over 5.19 lakh doses of Hepatitis B and 4.63 lakh doses of Pentavalent vaccines are currently available.

While the state’s projected need for 2024-2025 is significantly higher (9.73 lakh doses of Hepatitis B and 29.20 lakh doses of Pentavalent), the DPH emphasizes that existing stocks are sufficient to meet current demands. The statement highlights that Tamil Nadu maintains a 99% immunization coverage rate under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), benefiting nearly 9.58 lakh pregnant women and 8.76 lakh children annually.

Despite achieving high coverage rates for Hepatitis B (99%) and Pentavalent (94%) vaccines between April and November 2024, the DPH has implemented measures to ensure continued supply. These include supplying vaccines to 32 empanelled private hospitals through online platforms and instructing district health officers to provide free vaccines to private facilities in need. The DPH assures the public that all Primary Health Centres and government hospitals have adequate stocks.

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