Thiruvanandapuram: Opposition Leader V.S. Achuthananthan demanded to stop administering pentavalent vaccine in the state. The vaccine is meant to develop resistance in children against five dreadful diseases such as diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B and haemophilus influenza type b (HiB). According to him this medicine has severe side effects and infant deaths have been reported in the state by the administration of pentavalent vaccine.

Kerala is the first state in India which introduced pentavalent vaccine on account of their state immunization campaign. While launching the vaccine the state health department had said that this medicine has been used in the private sector for a long period and was found very safe.