One Hundred Fifty Thousand HIB Vaccines Were Expired At The Epidemeology Unit

Around One Hundred Fifty Thousand (150,000) HIB or Pantavalant Vaccines which is introduced to the Sri Lankan National Immunization Programme on January 2008 and later temporarily suspended due to child mortality were expired and stored in the Epidemiology Unit Stores Health Sources revealed.These Vaccines are worth around 15 Million Rupees according to the sources.

HIB Vaccine which can protect the infants from five diseases are prescribed for them at the ages of Two,Four and Six Months.This Vaccine was Temporarily removed from the National Immunization Campaign on April Last year as four infants were died after administered the Vaccine.However A World Health Organization Expert investigating on these Child Deaths and issued a report stating that the Vaccine has nothing to do with these deaths according to the Ministry of Health.

This HIB Vaccine stock was donated to Sri Lanka by the Gavy Foundation.

Even WHO Expert given a clearance to the Pantavalant Vaccine the inquiry report was not publicized and not re issued the Vaccine either.HIB Vaccine is administered to infants to protect against Diptheria,Whooping Cough,Tetanus,Hepatitis-B and Measles.