State health officials say high-risk individuals like nurses, doctors and health professionals can't wait till April for indigenous vaccine to hit market

Desi companies may not be able to come out with the swine flu vaccine until April, and Dr D S Dakhure, director of health services, Maharashtra, feels health professionals face too serious a risk to wait that long. Hence, the drug has been imported and will arrive India by next month.

"This is not the vaccine being developed by Indian companies. It is being imported. We have been directed to list doctors, nurses and other health workers, who come in direct contact with the swine flu-infected. The vaccine, which will cost about Rs 300 per head, is expected to arrive in 15 to 20 days," said Dakhure, who emphasised that the vaccine was not for the general public.

However, the vaccine will be made available to pregnant women, who are considered to face high risk of infection.

Not all doctors
Sharvaree Gokhale, the additional chief secretary, heath and family welfare, clarified that not all doctors and nurses in the state need to be vaccinated. "Only those who come in contact with swine flu patients should get vaccinated. Those who have a contact history like me have already have developed anti-bodies," said Gokhale.
Several public health officers involved in tackling swine flu confirmed that they have been asked to submit a list of professionals who come in contact with the H1N1-infected.

"We should be able to send our list within the next three days," said Dr Jose D'SA, state epidemiologist and nodal officer, Goa. In Gujarat, 14 lakh healthcare professionals are to be vaccinated.
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"Besides healthcare delivery workers, we have included high-risk groups like pregnant women amongst those who are to be vaccinated," said Dr S J Gandhi, additional director, directorate of health services and nodal officer, Gujarat.