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2000 — 2010
Vaxiflu-S
Breathe Easy This vaccine has created a platform in the country which can be used for production of any pandemic influenza vaccine
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t is considered a major scientific advancement in India-Vaxiflu S is India’s first vaccine against H1N1, which is manufactured by Ahmedabad based pharma major, ZydusCadila Healthcare. Launched in June 2010, this egg based inactivated vaccine is based on conventional technology. H1N1 swine flu has killed more than 18,000 people and affected some 214 countries since the virus emerged in Mexico and the US in April 2009. In India, over 1,500 have died, since the country reported its first influenza A (H1N1) case in May 2009. This technological breakthrough in the indigenous manufacture of Influenza Vaccine has created a platform in the country which can be used for production of any pandemic influenza vaccine besides seasonal influenza vaccines at short notice to safeguard public health. In November 2010, Tamil Nadu government decided to administer free vaccines for the poors following a spurt in H1N1 deaths in the state. Research and development of vaccines have also emerged as a major focus area in recent times. The worldwide vaccine market is predicted to increase at a compound annual rate of 9.7% during the next five years. Thus, the vaccine market is also re-emerging as a key revenue generator for the Indian pharma companies.
Fact File n In India, over 1,500 have died, since the country reported its first influenza A (H1N1) case in May 2009 n Vaxiflu S is India’s first vaccine against H1N1 n Zydus-Cadila is producing this H1N1 vaccine using the seed given by the WHO
Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project
Health for All After adopting TNHSP, the maternal mortality rate in Tamil Nadu witnessed a considerable drop from 145 in 2001-02 to 79 in 2008-09
Fact File n Funded by the World Bank at a total cost of INR 597.15 crore, the TNHSP was implemented in January 2005 for a period of around five years. World Bank has approved the second phase funding for next three years till 2013
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he centres have done extremely well in improving the maternal and infant mortality rates with Tamil Nadu now has much lower rates of infant and maternal mortality as compared to most of the other states. The rising concern for reducing maternal and infant mortality, the Tamil Nadu Health Systems project began in 1990, with a plan to cover the entire state over three expanding phases, the 51 centres of the first phase were designated in 2004 . Targetting to improve the health of the people of Tamil Nadu, especially the poor and the disadvantaged, the TNHSP covers various other aspects that are aimed at improving the overall status of health in the state. Improvement of infrastructure in district and sub-district hospitals, maintenance of medical equipment, building up a comprehensive health management information system, promotion of publicprivate partnerships and preventing risk factors for non-communicable diseases are some of the major aspects that the project looks into. After adopting this project, the maternal mortality rate in Tamil Nadu witnessed a considerable drop from 145 in 2001-02 to 79 in 2008-09, while the infant mortality rate fell from 49 in 2001 to 31 in 2008.
> www.ehealthonline.org > January 2011