What Happened
- Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda formally launched the indigenously manufactured Tetanus and Adult Diphtheria (Td) vaccine at the Central Research Institute (CRI) in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh on February 21, 2026.
- The Td vaccine has been introduced under India's Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), replacing the previously used Tetanus Toxoid (TT) vaccine.
- This transition aligns India with the World Health Organization's 2006 recommendation that countries shift from standalone TT to the combined Td vaccine.
- CRI Kasauli will supply 55 lakh (5.5 million) doses of the Td vaccine to the UIP by April 2026, with production expected to scale up progressively.
- The launch marks a milestone in India's indigenous vaccine manufacturing capability — the CRI completed all developmental studies, regulatory clearances, and received Marketing Authorization before initiating commercial production.
Static Topic Bridges
Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) — India's Flagship Vaccine Programme
The Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) is one of the largest public health programmes in the world, targeting approximately 2.67 crore newborns and 2.9 crore pregnant women annually. Launched in 1985 under the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI, which began in 1978), UIP provides free immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases. It is implemented through the National Health Mission (NHM) and is funded as a centrally sponsored scheme.
- Launched: 1978 (EPI) → expanded to UIP in 1985; universal coverage target achieved progressively
- Implementing body: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; delivery through NHM
- Diseases currently covered nationally (9): Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, Rubella, severe childhood Tuberculosis (BCG), Hepatitis B, and Meningitis & Pneumonia (Hib)
- Sub-national coverage (3 additional diseases): Rotavirus diarrhoea, Pneumococcal Pneumonia, and Japanese Encephalitis (JE — endemic districts only)
- Total: 12 vaccine-preventable diseases under UIP using 11 vaccines
- Td vaccine is now introduced as the 12th/replacement vaccine in the UIP schedule, replacing the TT vaccine
Connection to this news: The Td vaccine's inclusion in UIP expands protection — from tetanus alone (TT) to both tetanus and diphtheria — upgrading the immunization shield for pregnant women and adolescents without adding a new injection schedule.
Tetanus and Diphtheria — Disease Biology and Vaccine Types
Tetanus (caused by Clostridium tetani) and Diphtheria (caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae) are both bacterial infections preventable by vaccination. Tetanus causes severe muscle spasms ("lockjaw") and can be fatal; diphtheria causes a membrane to form in the throat, potentially blocking the airway and damaging the heart and nerves. The key difference between vaccine formulations: TT (Tetanus Toxoid) provides only tetanus protection; Td adds a reduced-antigen diphtheria component; DPT (or DTP) adds pertussis and is given to infants. The WHO recommends Td for adolescents and adults as booster doses, as diphtheria immunity wanes over time.
- TT (Tetanus Toxoid): Provides tetanus protection only; previously used in UIP for pregnant women
- Td (Tetanus + reduced-antigen Diphtheria): WHO-recommended replacement for TT in adolescents/adults (recommended since 2006)
- DPT (Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus): Three-antigen vaccine given to infants — higher-antigen formulation not suitable as adult booster
- Diphtheria resurgence risk: Several countries saw diphtheria outbreaks in 2022–2024 due to declining immunity; Td booster addresses this
- WHO EPI schedule recommendation: Two doses of Td during each pregnancy for women who have not previously received a tetanus-containing vaccine
Connection to this news: Switching from TT to Td in UIP is not merely a vaccine update — it directly counters the risk of diphtheria resurgence by maintaining herd immunity in the adult population using the same immunization infrastructure.
Central Research Institute (CRI), Kasauli — India's Public Sector Vaccine Maker
The Central Research Institute, Kasauli is a historic government institution established in 1905 (originally as the Pasteur Institute for India, founded by Sir David Semple). It is located in Solan district, Himachal Pradesh, and functions as a subordinate office under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. CRI's mandate includes vaccine manufacturing, research in microbiology and public health, national referral functions, and human resource training.
- Established: 1905 (as Pasteur Institute for India); renamed CRI Kasauli
- Administrative control: DGHS, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
- Products: DPT group of vaccines (DTP and Td), antisera (ASVS — anti-snake venom serum, ARS — anti-rabies serum, DATS — diphtheria antitoxin, TATS — tetanus antitoxin), Yellow Fever vaccine
- CRI is the sole government manufacturer of Yellow Fever vaccine in India — essential for international travel to endemic countries
- Regulatory pathway for Td: CRI obtained Test License → clinical trial waivers → Marketing Authorization → Central Drugs Laboratory release → commercial production
Connection to this news: CRI's successful development of an indigenous Td vaccine reduces India's dependence on imported vaccines and demonstrates the public sector's capacity to meet WHO-recommended standards within an entirely domestic production pathway.
Vaccine Regulation in India — CDSCO and Clinical Trial Framework
Vaccines in India are regulated by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 (and Rules, 1945). The regulatory pathway involves preclinical studies, Phase I-III clinical trials, marketing authorization, and release certification from the Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL), Kasauli — a separate body from CRI.
- Regulatory body: CDSCO (under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)
- Statutory basis: Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940; Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945; New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019
- Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL), Kasauli: Independent batch-release testing body for biological products; distinct from CRI
- Waiver mechanism: CDSCO can waive Phase I, II, III clinical trials for vaccines that are well-established globally — CRI's Td received such waivers given the vaccine's established global safety profile
- Serum Institute of India (Pune) and Bharat Biotech (Hyderabad): Dominant private sector vaccine manufacturers; CRI represents public sector indigenous capability
Connection to this news: The waivers granted to CRI's Td vaccine production demonstrate the regulatory system's flexibility for domestically manufactured versions of globally established vaccines, shortening the timeline from development to deployment.
Key Facts & Data
- Vaccine launched: Tetanus and Adult Diphtheria (Td) — at CRI Kasauli, February 21, 2026
- Institution: Central Research Institute, Kasauli (est. 1905, Solan district, Himachal Pradesh)
- Ministry: Health and Family Welfare (DGHS subordinate office)
- Doses to be supplied by April 2026: 55 lakh (5.5 million) under UIP
- WHO recommendation to replace TT with Td: 2006
- UIP diseases covered (national): 9 diseases (12 total including sub-national); 11 vaccines
- UIP annual target: ~2.67 crore newborns and ~2.9 crore pregnant women
- UIP launch: 1978 (EPI), expanded to UIP 1985
- Td vs TT: Td adds reduced-antigen diphtheria component to standard tetanus toxoid
- Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL), Kasauli: Independently releases certified batches for UIP supply