Bharat Bio introduces 'made-in-India' vaccine

Hyderabad: Bharat Biotech International, a Hyderabad-based manufacturer of vaccines and biotherapeutics, on Monday launched COMVAC5, a single-shot pentavalent combination vaccine, which contains the first indigenously developed and manufactured haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) vaccine in India and the only Hepatitis B vaccine in the world to be manufactured without the use of cesium chloride.

COMVAC5, which contains diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus and Hepatitis B, and Hib, offers complete protection against Hib antigen bacterium. Hib can cause meningitis and severe pneumonia, leading to about 3 million cases of serious illness and 400,000 deaths each year in children under 5 years.