The CBI, probing vaccine scam, is set to seek clarification from certain private drug manufacturing companies of Chennai and Hyderabad. The agency may also call a former official of the staterun BCG Vaccine Lab (Chennai) for questioning also. According to sources two private vaccine manufacturers are under the scanner of the agency. “These private companies are based in Chennai and Hyderabad. The agency is also probing the role of a Pune-based drug manufacturing company in this regard“. The CBI recently registered a preliminary enquiry (PE) to probe the alleged “malafide intention“ in putting a ban on vaccine production by three Central public sector undertakings (PSUs) during the tenure of former Union health minister Anbumani Ramadoss. The Union health ministry in 2007 had ordered the closure of vaccine production by three PSUs -BCG Vaccine Lab (Chennai), Pasteur Institute (Coonoor) and Central Research Institute of Kasauli — citing a June 2007 WHO report, which had claimed that these units were using redundant technology. However, the ban was later revoked following an internal probe by the ministry. “There are reports that certain former officials of the Central PSUs were allegedly forced to give polio seeds (raw material for making vaccines) to some private drug manufacturers. Initial probe by the agency has revealed that raw material for making vaccines were allegedly given to private companies free of cost. The agency is further verifying it. The agency will soon record the statement of a former official of a PSU in this regard”, sources said. The PE has been registered against unknown officials of the Union health ministry and directorate general of health services. “The agency will also request the health ministry to provide all relevant documents related to the decision to the CBI. Ministry’s decision to ban production had further created a shortage of these vaccines in government hospitals also, sources said.