Punjab is facing a severe shortage of hepatitis vaccine for newborns after a private company failed to deliver the required doses, prompting the provincial Health Department to blacklist the supplier.
Vaccine shortage hits newborns
According to official documents, the Punjab Health Department had placed an order for three million doses of the hepatitis vaccine in 2024. However, the company managed to supply only 524,000 doses, leaving a massive gap that resulted in critical shortages for newborns across the province.
Repeated reminders ignored
Letters from the Health Department reveal that the company was repeatedly instructed to fulfil the remaining supply. Despite multiple reminders, the firm failed to meet its commitment.
The company reportedly attributed the delay to technical malfunctions at its vaccine manufacturing plant in India.
Blacklisting announced
Documents show that with newborns facing a serious vaccine shortage due to this failure, Punjab’s director general of health issued an order blacklisting the company. The decision bans the firm from participating in any tender process for the next three years.
Severe impact on public health
The documents highlight that the shortage has put thousands of newborns at risk, as the vaccine is a critical part of early childhood immunization. Health officials stressed that the company bore full responsibility for the crisis since it had been contractually obligated to ensure timely supply.
