Havisure

Facts for Prelims

Havisure

News: Indian Immunologicals Ltd (IIL), a subsidiary of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and a leading biopharmaceutical company in Hyderabad, launched India\'s first indigenously developed Hepatitis A vaccine named \'Havisure.\'

About:
• Havisure is India’s first indigenously developed Hepatitis A vaccine.
• Havisure is a two-dose vaccine, with the first dose administered at above 12 months of age and the second at least six months after the first dose.
• The vaccine is recommended for children as part of the routine immunisation as well as for individuals at risk of exposure or travel to the regions with high hepatitis A prevalence.
• In addition to this, people with occupational risk of infection and suffering from chronic liver diseases also require Hepatitis A vaccination.

Significance:
• The significance of Havisure lies in its role in preventing Hepatitis A, a highly contagious liver infection transmitted through the faecal-oral route via contaminated food or water.
• The development of Havisure reflects the Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiative, as it reduces dependency on imported Hepatitis A vaccines. This marks a significant milestone in India’s efforts to become self-sufficient in vaccine production, reducing reliance on imports and potentially making the vaccine more accessible to the population.