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CPI (M) wants vaccine units to be upgraded

PUDUCHERRY: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Thursday staged a demonstration to oppose the decision to close three public sector vaccine production units and demanded fund allocation to upgrade the units.

The party in a release said the Union Health Ministry had stopped production at the units — BCG Lab at Guindy, Chennai, Pasteur Institute of India at Coonoor and Central Research Institute at Kasauli — on January 15 owing to “non-compliance of World Health Organisation standards.”

CPI (M) said the Ministry was planning to close the units and hand over the production of vaccines to private firms. It was on this basis that the government along with private firms was planning to open a vaccine park at Kancheepuram district.

On stopping production at the public sector units, the vaccines were being procured from private firms.

This had led to the death of three children who received vaccine shots recently, the party said.

The party pointed out that the free vaccination scheme would be dropped slowly and the fee would be charged for the vaccines due to privatisation. It said the units should not be closed but funds should be allotted for upgradation works. Production of vaccines should not be handed over to private firms, the party demanded.

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