Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda on February 21 launched the indigenously manufactured tetanus and adult diphtheria (Td) vaccine at the Central Research Institute (CRI) in Himachal Pradesh. Addressing the gathering, Union Minister Nadda congratulated the scientists, technical experts and staff of the Central Research Institute (CRI), Kasauli, describing the indigenous launch of the tetanus and adult diphtheria vaccine as a momentous and historic occasion.
He stated that the launch marks a significant step towards safeguarding national health security and strengthening India’s public health infrastructure. Nadda underlined that the Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has set clear targets for achieving self-reliance in the health and pharmaceutical sectors. He noted that the launch of the indigenously manufactured Td vaccine represents a concrete step towards the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat in health and medicine.
With the formal launch of the Td vaccine , the vaccine has now been introduced for supply under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP). The Central Research Institute will supply 55 lakh doses to the UIP by April, with production expected to scale up progressively in subsequent years to further strengthen the Universal Immunisation Programme of the government of India, he said.
Highlighting India’s global standing, Nadda also stated that India is widely recognized as the “pharmacy of the world” and is among the leading vaccine manufacturers globally. He said India has achieved Maturity Level III in the World Health Organization’s global benchmarking of regulatory systems, reflecting the robustness of its vaccine regulatory framework.
