The report "India imports yellow fever vaccine to overcome shortage" (July 14) says new stock was imported on July 11. I have called almost all centres and stockists where the vaccination is administered in India and the answer has been the same: stocks have not arrived. After three days of fruitless searching for even a single dose, I finally called the World Health Organisation (WHO) to ask if someone could direct me to a stockist who had the vaccine. The lady who answered confirmed that the vaccine had been imported and handed over to the ministry of health and said one Inder Prakash, deputy director general in the health ministry, is the person responsible. When I called Prakash's office, I was told he was not available. When I called the Port Trust hospitals, I was told I could expect the vaccines next year! As a result of the non-availability of this vaccine, which is required by more than 40 countries in Africa and South America, thousands of people have been forced everyday to cancel their trips for the past six months. Many of these travellers are businesspeople, which means the country is losing a lot of business for the lack of one vaccine. Surely the government needs to tackle this issue with more urgency given the state of our economy?
Renju P Kunjumon Trivandrum
Letters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:
The Editor, Business Standard
Nehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
New Delhi 110 002
Fax: (011) 23720201
E-mail: letters@bsmail.in
All letters must have a postal address and telephone number
Renju P Kunjumon Trivandrum
Letters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:
The Editor, Business Standard
Nehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
New Delhi 110 002
Fax: (011) 23720201
E-mail: letters@bsmail.in
All letters must have a postal address and telephone number