DCA seizes improperly stored Tetanus vaccines from Sultan Bazaar

Hyderabad: The Drugs Control Administration, Telangana officials seized Tetanus vaccine and Oxytocin injections, which were stored improperly. On Thursday, the officials raided the premises of a medical distributor named Sri Nandini Pharma in Sultan Bazaar here and seized stocks of Tetanus vaccine and Oxytocin injections for stocking them on racks at room temperature, which could potentially lead to the degradation of the products and the loss of potency of the injections.

Medication can lose potency without refrigeration

Tetanus vaccine and Oxytocin injections are temperature-sensitive medicines that should be stored in a refrigerator at 2°C to 8°C to maintain their efficacy. Storage at room temperature causes a loss of potency, and the use of such injections may adversely affect patients’ health, as they fail to produce the intended therapeutic effect.

Mithinti Srinivas, proprietor of Sri Nandini Pharma, was present during the raid. Further investigation will be carried out, and action will be taken as per the law against all offenders.

Storing the Tetanus vaccine (Tetanus Toxoid injection) at room temperature instead of under refrigeration can lead to the degradation of the toxoid. Tetanus toxoid is a heat-sensitive protein that can degrade when exposed to higher temperatures, resulting in a decreased ability to induce an immune response, thereby reducing its therapeutic effect.

Storing Oxytocin injection at room temperature instead of under refrigeration can lead to the degradation of the peptide hormone oxytocin. Oxytocin is sensitive to heat and can degrade when exposed to high temperatures, resulting in a decrease in its potency and effectiveness. This degradation may lead to a loss of uterotonic activity, meaning oxytocin’s ability to stimulate uterine contractions could be compromised, thereby reducing its therapeutic effect in inducing labour or controlling postpartum bleeding.

Stocking Tetanus vaccine and Oxytocin injections at room temperature in a medical shop is punishable under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, with imprisonment of up to two years.

Raid at unlicensed premises in Hanumakonda

In another incident, DCA Telangana, acting on credible information regarding the illegal stocking and sale of medicines, raided unlicensed premises at Mahima Clinic, Vinayaka Nagar Line 3, KUC Road, Hanumakonda. G Pravin Kumar was found stocking drugs at the clinic for sale without a drug license.

During the raid, DCA officers detected the unauthorised stocking of a large quantity of medicines intended for sale. A total of 42 varieties of medicines were found at the premises, including expired drugs, habit-forming drugs, vaccines, antibiotics and steroids, etc. The officers seized the stock, worth Rs 80,000.

Further investigation shall be carried out, and action shall be taken as per the law against all the offenders.

Stringent action on illegal storage of drugs

Wholesalers and dealers who supply medicines to individuals, stocking and selling drugs without a drug licence, are also punishable under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Stringent action will be taken against such wholesalers and dealers. They shall mandatorily ensure that the recipient entities hold a valid drug license before supplying medicines to them.