NICED in talks with Bengal to launch cholera vaccine

Kolkata: The National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED), a premier institute under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), is in talks with the West Bengal government to introduce a cholera vaccine ahead of the peak season as a preventive measure.

"We have received a positive vibe from the state government to launch the vaccine in the cholera off-season. Once the funding is available, we will go ahead with the state government's approval," said Shanta Dutta, director-in-charge, NICED.

The researchers wish to apply the preventive step to a particular area, such as in the Sundarbans, to assess the effect and crunch data. Cholera is endemic to Bengal.

"It is an oral vaccine and the production technology was transferred to Shantha Biotechnics in India, from a Vietnamese producer. It has an efficacy of around 55 percent," added Dutta.