LAHORE, April 9: The Hepatitis-B vaccine is not yet available in city hospitals even after its inclusion in the regular EPI programme.

It was learnt during visits to various hospitals that none of them has not yet received the vaccine.

Lahore District Officer Health Dr Muhammad Hasan said mobile teams were injecting the Hepatitis-B vaccine along with the first dose of DPT. The vaccine was being sent to the basic health units and rural health centres, he added.

When asked about non-availability of the vaccine in hospitals, he said the vaccine was being transported and would soon be available in hospitals.

Punjab Health Services Director-General Dr Yaqoob Jaffar said the vaccine was being sent to different districts in phases. Officers posted at each district had been asked to collect the vaccine from Lahore. They would also be given one-day training about the handling of the costly vaccine.