Human Vaccines in India: Present and Future Perspectives
Vaccines are formulations that equip the human immune system to fight against a pathogen. All the vaccines approved for use are safe. On vaccination, the body produces enough clonal B and T cells to resist infection. Vaccines are the most cost-effective defense against infectious diseases. In India, there are at least 19 manufactures of vaccines. In addition, there are also a large number of companies that import specific vaccine formulations and sell these in India. These include two multinational companies that have also established repacking facilities. India has a well-established Universal Immunization Program (UIP) that targets vaccination of 30 million pregnant women and 27 million newborns annually. Indian vaccines are available at affordable prices to the private consumers but are supplied free of cost to the Indian beneficiaries through the UIP. Several kinds of vaccines technology are being researched all over the world. India has concentrated on the production and supply of conventional vaccines at cost-effective prices. India is also engaged in some level of research at manufacturing companies as well as at the institutional level. Effective vaccination of pregnant women and children would translate into a generally more healthy and productive society globally. India is poised to contribute in such an endeavor.