Hepatitis B vaccine shortage hits Bengaluru hospitals

Bengaluru: Hospitals in Bengaluru are reporting a persistent shortage of Hepatitis B vaccines, crucial to prevent a serious liver infection that can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer.

The shortage has continued for over a year, with no signs of improvement.

"Pharmaceutical companies in the market are not interested in manufacturing this vaccine because profit margins are low," said Dr Naresh Bhat, chief of gastroenterology and hepatology at a private hospital in north Bengaluru.

Hospitals are struggling to vaccinate at-risk groups, particularly cancer patients, end-stage liver disease patients, and those on dialysis. Hospital staff, healthcare workers, prison inmates and the police are also vulnerable.

"In the last 10-15 years, most children would have gotten vaccinated through the government's Universal Immunisation Programme, but most older people in their 20s, 30s and 40s need the vaccine. The government needs to intervene and push for this," he said.

If someone has Hepatitis B, family members are also screened because there is a 25 per cent chance someone will test positive, Dr Bhat added.

The vaccine is administered in three shots — the second one month after the first, and the third within six months.

Adults often rely on double doses of the paediatric vaccine, said Dr Mallikarjun, a hepatologist at a hospital in Koramangala. "The paediatric dose is 10 micrograms, and an adult dose is 20 micrograms."

"At least 30 per cent of patients that come to us after a prick have not gotten vaccinated against Hepatitis B," he said.

Dr Naveen Ganjoo, senior consultant of hepatology at a JP Nagar hospital, said many do not complete the three-dose schedule.

"Prevention programmes are suffering. Families that need the vaccine do not get it. Screening often yields no result because there are not enough vaccines. In Tier 2 cities, even paediatric doses are unavailable," he said.

In government hospitals in the city, vaccination is limited only to staff, including Group C and D employees.

A Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation official said they are procuring 70,676 vials for government health facilities.