Committee to Examine Gadrasil Vaccine

Indian Union Health Ministry on 10 April 2010 constituted a three-member committee to probe whether ethical guidelines were violated during the clinical trials of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine, Gardasil, meant to prevent cervical cancer. The inquiry committee including Dr S P Aggarwal, former Director General of Health Services (DGHS), Dr Suneeta Mittal, Head of the Department, Obstetrics and Gynaecology at All India Institute of Medical Sciences and Ranjit Roy Chaudhury, leading clinical pharmacologist is expected to submit its report within two months. Untill then the vaccination programme would remain suspended. The programme first started in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. Problem arose when the vaccine, Gardasil, led to the death of four girls who were administered the dose in Khammam district of Andhra Pradesh.