Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J P Nadda launched the indigenously developed Tetanus and Adult Diphtheria (TD) vaccine at the Central Research Institute (CRI), Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh.
In 2006, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended countries transition from the tetanus toxoid (TT) vaccine to the TD vaccine. This recommendation was reaffirmed in the WHO's Tetanus Vaccine Position Paper (2017) and in consultations with the Strategic Advisory Expert Group (SAGE) in 2002 and 2016.
With the formal launch of the TD vaccine, it has now been introduced for supply under the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP). He informed that the Central Research Institute will provide 55 lakh doses to UIP by April 2026, and the production is expected to gradually increase in the coming years to further strengthen the Universal Immunisation Programme of the Government of India.
Highlighting the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP), Health Minister described it as the world's largest immunisation programme. Currently, 11 vaccines are available under UIP for protection against 12 vaccines, in which CRI has been a significant contributor.
Referring to India's global solidarity efforts, he said that under the Vaccine Maitri initiative, India provided vaccines to nearly 100 countries, out of which 48 countries received vaccines free of cost. He said that the contribution of public sector institutions like CRI has strengthened India's ability to meet both domestic and global needs.
