# \[e-drug\] BMJ Open paper on Hib vaccine coverage in India **URL:** \ **Category:** e-drug\ **Created:** [March 6, 2015, 10:47pm UTC](https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-bmj-open-paper-on-hib-vaccine-coverage-in-india/41568 "2015-03-06T22:47:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![abhishek\_sharma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/71c47a/32.png) [@abhishek\_sharma](https://talk.edrugplus.org/u/abhishek_sharma)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2015, 10:47pm UTC](https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-bmj-open-paper-on-hib-vaccine-coverage-in-india/41568/1 "2015-03-06T22:47:21Z")
E-DRUG: BMJ Open paper on Hib vaccine coverage in India --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear E-Druggers I would like to bring to your attention a paper we published in the BMJ Open, titled: "Implications of private sector Hib vaccine coverage for the introduction of public sector Hib-containing pentavalent vaccine in India: evidence from retrospective time series data". This study is the first nationwide analysis of the Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine uptake in India's private sector market. We provide baseline information about the state-by-state private sector coverage of Hib vaccine (prior to its public sector introduction, scheduled April 2015). This case study explains how the non-traditional vaccines behave with respect to state-specific socioeconomic status in India when these vaccines are available only in the private sector market through out-of-pocket payments. Please find the abstract pasted below. The complete paper can be accessed here: [http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/5/2/e007038.ful](http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/5/2/e007038.ful) Regards Abhishek Sharma On behalf of all co-authors Abstract Objective: \*Haemophilus influenzae\* type b (Hib) vaccine has been available in India's private sector market since 1997. It was not until 14 December 2011 that the Government of India initiated the phased public sector introduction of a Hib (and DPT, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus)-containing pentavalent vaccine. Our objective was to investigate the state-specific coverage and behaviour of Hib vaccine in India when it was available only in the private sector market but not in the public sector. This baseline information can act as a guide to determine how much coverage the public sector rollout of pentavalent vaccine (scheduled April 2015) will need to bear in order to achieve complete coverage. Setting: 16 of 29 states in India, 2009–2012. Design: Retrospective descriptive secondary data analysis. hospitals and retail pharmacies collected by IMS Health and (2) national household surveys. Outcome measures: State-specific Hib vaccine coverage (%) and its associations with state-specific socioeconomic status. Results: The overall private sector Hib vaccine coverage among the 2009–2012 birth cohort was low (4%) and varied widely among the studied Indian states (minimum 0.3%; maximum 4.6%). We found that private sector Hib vaccine coverage depends on urban areas with good access to the private sector, parent's purchasing capacity and private paediatricians' prescribing practices. Per capita gross domestic product is a key explanatory variable. The annual Hib vaccine uptake and the 2009–2012 coverage levels were several times higher in the capital/metropolitan cities than the rest of the state, suggesting inequity in access to Hib vaccine delivered by the private sector. Conclusions: If India has to achieve high and equitable Hib vaccine coverage levels, nationwide public sector introduction of the pentavalent vaccine is needed. However, the role of private sector in universal Hib vaccine coverage is undefined as yet but it should not be neglected as a useful complement to public sector services. -- Abhishek Sharma Department of Global Health Boston University School of Public Health Boston, MA, USA Email: abhi0991@bu.edu abhishek sharma \