Catherine J Frompovich – The implementation of a pentavalent (5 actives in one vaccine) into the Indian health system has caused great concern, especially since “Every few days one more child dies after receiving the pentavalent vaccine… Yet as these deaths mount, it has been announced that …” [1]
The five-in-one vaccine contains actives for diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib). It seems that the hepatitis B active is questioned as not being protective of infections in babies. How interesting! As a result, parents are refusing to have their children vaccinated, while vaccination rates have fallen off dramatically—25 percent in the last four years.
Ten Indian health experts, Dr Amitav Banerjee, Dr Arun Gupta, Dr BM Hegde, Dr JP Dadhich, Dr Jacob Puliyel, Dr KP Kushwaha, Dr Ritu Priya, Dr SK Mittal, Dr S Srinivasan and Dr Vikas Bajpai, wrote a letter to the Indian PMO (Property Management Officer) [2] wherein they stated that
The study conducted by the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, and the National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad and two editorials in the journal (Indian Paediatrics) raised several questions regarding the universal immunization programme (UIP) itself. Dr T Jacob John in his editorial noted that the frequency of chronic infection was similar in both the unvaccinated and the vaccinated – about 0.15%. The Hepatitis B vaccine was thus completely useless in this population. Professor Jacob John further observed that the immunological and epidemiological outcomes of rolling out Hib are not being monitored as UIP has no capacity for that function. [CJF emphasis]
And concluded with: