34,300 doses of imported H1N1 vaccine arrive in Mumbai

Mumbai: Maharashtra on Monday got 34,300 doses of imported swine flu vaccine made by French Pharma company Sanofi-Pasteur. The vaccines arrived in Mumbai, and will now be shipped to different districts. They will be administered within a week.

The imported vaccine has received the necessary clearances from the drug controller general of India (DCGI), and has been proven to be safe for humans. The safety data of the vaccine has also been analysed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

ICMR director Dr VM Katoch told DNA that the safety trials are satisfactory, and the vaccine is ready for release. Joint secretary of the Union ministry of health and family welfare, Vineet Chawdhary, said the vaccine will be administered by the medical fraternity like doctors, nurses, health workers etc. treating H1N1 patients.