A campaign against the Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine in India launched by some medical professionals has delayed a government plan to introduce the vaccine through its free national immunisation programme for children.

The health ministry had last year announced that it would replace the standard vaccine for diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus with a pentavalent vaccine that would also protect children against hepatitis B and Hib.

The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI), after consultation with the Indian health ministry, had pledged in August 2009 a grant of $165m (£110m; €135m) to roll out the new vaccine to cover 10 million children in 10 of India’s 28 states in 2010.

The Hib organism, which can cause severe bacterial meningitis and pneumonia, is estimated to kill more than 370 000 children worldwide each year, GAVI said. Nearly 20% of these deaths occur in India.

But the campaign mounted against the Hib vaccine …