GAIGHAT: District Health Office (DHO), Udayapur, has halted immunisation works after the Health Ministry directed the DHO not to use the new pentavalent vaccines.

The new vaccines were brought to the district for immunising children against cough, tetanus, homophiles and viral influenza. DPT vaccines were used earlier for the purpose.

Following the direction from the ministry, children in the district have not been vaccinated for a week. According to DHO, Udayapur, the new vaccine was brought for the first time in the district. Dr Bajra Kishor Thakur, head, DHO, Udayapur, said, "The Health Ministry has not informed why the vaccine has been banned."

He also said that the vaccination would be halted until the next message was received from the ministry. He further clarified that other vaccines being used in the district were not

halted.