KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Thursday asked the Central and State governments to file an affidavit on a petition against the decision to administer the Pentavalent vaccine under the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP). The petitioner, Dr P G Hari, president of Janakeeya Manushyavakasha Prasthanam, had submitted that no studies were conducted before the roll-out of the vaccine. Though studies have shown that the HIB vaccine had several side-effects, the state authorities were going ahead with its administration. The petitioner submitted that the roll-out was to protect the vested interests of pharmaceutical companies and international agencies. Opposing the petition, the government submitted that the vaccine is already available in private hospitals. However, the court directed to file particulars regarding the government’s decision to introduce the vaccine in Kerala and Tamil Nadu and file an affidavit in this regard.The case will be considered after Christmas vacation.
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