Setback for India's polio-eradication program

Several doses of an oral polio vaccine made by a government-owned firm in India have failed quality tests.

In what is being termed a major setback to India’s polio eradication program, the Central Drugs Laboratory in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh, declared 16 batches (30,000 vials) manufactured by Bibcol (Bharat Immunological and Biologicals Corporation Limited) as 'substandard'.

The public sector undertaking supplies vaccines to the government’s polio eradication program. Approximately 90 million doses of the polio vaccine are required for a follow-up program slated for June.