Private hospitals in Tamil Nadu are currently experiencing a shortage of Hepatitis B vaccines, while government hospitals have sufficient stock available. The Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine has advised that individuals can visit the nearest Primary Health Centre (PHC) to get vaccinated against hepatitis B as per the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) schedule.

Many private hospitals in the state are struggling to obtain an adequate supply of hepatitis B vaccines, particularly for vaccinating their healthcare staff and patients undergoing dialysis. However, a private hospital in Chennai that offers both pentavalent and hexavalent vaccines, which include hepatitis B, currently has enough stock.

The Health department has confirmed that there is no shortage of the vaccine in government hospitals. Health Minister Ma. Subramanian stated that Tamil Nadu currently has 6,21,320 doses of the vaccine in stock, which is enough to meet the demand for 8.5 months. Additionally, there are 5,52,100 pentavalent vaccines available to cover the needs for the next 2.5 months.

T. S. Selvavinayagam, Director of Public Health, emphasized that individuals can visit nearby PHCs to vaccinate children according to the UIP schedule. A doctor familiar with the hepatitis B vaccine situation mentioned that vaccinating adults against Hepatitis B presents challenges, as it requires targeting key populations who have tested negative for hepatitis before vaccination.

One of the main challenges in administering the hepatitis B vaccine is the Open Vial Policy, which aims to prevent wastage by allowing the use of an open vial for up to 28 days. The vaccine is typically given to targeted adult groups after hepatitis B testing, but there is also a shortage of test kits available.