Vaccine firm launches single-dose vial as docs complain it is difficult to get hold of five people who want to be inoculated at the same time; observers say new pack will reduce malpractices

Keeping in mind complaints of profiteering by doctors owing to short supply of the H1N1 vaccine, the Serum Institute of India (SII) has introduced a single-dose vial of the intra-nasal vaccine. About 35,000 such doses have hit the market according to the Chemist Association of Pune District (CAPD).

"However, even after the introduction of the single dose vial, the vaccine is still in short supply as we are not getting enough doses to keep up with the high demand," said Mahendra Pitaliya, co-ordinator of CAPD.

Besides short supply, sources said the company introduced single dose vials to check profiteering by doctors.

MiD DAY had earlier reported how doctors were inoculating six people out of the five-dose vial.

"Earlier the vial contained five doses. However there were reports of doctors vaccinating six people with one vial. If this happens then it means none of the six people are inoculated properly. That's why company must have decided to reduce dosage to one vial per person," said a senior doctor.

However company officials say that the reason for introducing single vial dose is for the convenience of doctors.

"Earlier doctors had to wait until five people got together before they could administer the vaccine. That could take any number of days and a person loses out on precious time in this wait. Hence the need to introduce single-dose vial," said Dr Rajeev Dere, senior director (vaccines), SII.