Pune, August 6: For the first time in the country, a hepatitis A vaccine was launched in the city on Monday that uses a new generation virosome technology.

Dr Christian Herzog, director of medical services, Berna Biotech, Switzerland — the brain child behind the technology — told media persons that the virosome uses a biodegradable delivery system and is the most natural way of presenting antigens to the immune system of the body. They elicit high immune response keeping jaundice at bay and score well over conventional vaccines on pain parameters, he said. Currently, the vaccine is available in more than 40 countries.

Vaccination is at present the only method for protection against Hepatitis A, said Dr Pramod Jog, consultant paediatrician and President of Indian Academy of Paediatrics, Pune branch.

The Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is quite active during rainy seasons and spreads fast in comparison to other viruses. It spreads easily in areas where there are poor sanitary conditions or where personal hygiene is not observed. The transmission is generally through the gastrointestinal route. “The first step to prevent the disease is to vaccinate the child during the second year of age,” informs Dr Herzog.

According to United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) cause an estimated 2 million deaths or more every year. Till about 15 years ago Hepatitis A was considered as the disease of the childhood as most get exposed to the infection after five years. However, in the last five years, prevalence of Hepatitis A is also being observed in older age group of people between 15-20 years, doctors point.

The new vaccine is being marketed in India by Chiron Panacea Vaccines, a joint venture of Novartis Vaccines (formerly Chiron) and Panacea Biotec.