Kerala bought anti-rabies vaccines before tests
KOZHIKODE: Contrary to claims by Kerala Medical Services Corporation (KMSC) that all norms were followed while procuring anti-rabies vaccine or the Equine Rabies Immune Globulin (ERIG), reports have emerged hinting that the vaccines were bought even before the test results were published. Communication between the corporation and the serum manufacturer reveals that the anti-rabies vaccine procured had not undergone the mandatory tests at the Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL).
The directive to procure anti-venom after the tests by the manufacturer was issued at the Corporation’s meeting on July 14.
The representatives of the manufacturer, Vins Bioproducts Limited, had informed the Corporation that the batch of vaccines had undergone only the seven-day tests at the company, and it would be completed only on July 21.
The Corporation reportedly ignored the communication and instructed the firm to supply the vaccine, reports say.
The efficacy of the vaccine came to the lime light after the death of a 19-year-old college student in Palakkad, even after required anti-rabies doses were taken. The student was given anti-rabies shots after she had been bitten by a dog.
Following allegations, KMSC general manager Dr SS Joy justified the procurement of the serum, and maintained that the corporation had adhered to all prescribed norms.
According to the Corporation’s tender norms, tests at the CDL are mandatory for anti-rabies venom. The test would take 30 days. But after the state faced a serious shortage of the vaccine, the general manager directed to procure the vaccine without the CDL test.
The company had informed the Corporation that it had delivered 6,000 vials at Trivandrum and 4,000 vials at Ernakulam on July 16.
It also said another 6,000 vials would be delivered at Kozhikode the next day.
The communication revealed that the vaccines were distributed to the hospitals five days before the tests were completed. The certificate for Batch 02AR22019 of vaccines by Vins revealed that the company had commenced testing it on July 7 and completed it on July 21.