City hospitals in Bengaluru are currently facing a shortage of Hepatitis B vaccine, leaving patients waiting for up to a week due to high demand and limited supply. Hospitals cite a scarcity of raw materials affecting vaccine production, compounded by increased demand during the student migration season in July and August.
According to sources from Apollo Hospitals, repeated requests for the vaccine have been met with responses from the pharmacy indicating delayed stocks from the manufacturing company. “The vaccine makers have officially communicated that the shortage is due to raw material issues and that it may persist until September, stated a doctor from Apollo Hospitals.
Manipal Hospital spokesperson Bhavana confirmed the national scarcity, noting that at Manipal, vaccination appointments are scheduled with a waiting period of about a week depending on daily influxes of patients. The demand peaks during July, August, and December, coinciding with student, visitor, and corporate travel, she explained.
Responding to questions about anticipating the seasonal demand, Kamal Bhalla, consultant physician at Sagar Hospitals, highlighted a significant increase in student migration this year, attributing it to a 50% rise compared to previous years.
Mallikarjun, Professor and Head of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at St. John’s Hospital, emphasized the importance of Hepatitis B vaccination, especially for newborns and high-risk individuals like family members of patients, dialysis patients, and pregnant women who are Hepatitis B positive. He underscored that vaccination is crucial in preventing transmission and protecting against the asymptomatic carriers prevalent in the Indian population.
