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Draft:Vipin Mohan Vashishtha

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"Dr. Vipin Mohan Vashishtha’’

’‘’Dr. Vipin Mohan Vashishtha’’’ [1] is an Indian pediatrician, neonatologist, and vaccinologist known for his contributions to vaccine policy development,[2] polio eradication campaigns,[3] [4]outbreak investigations of childhood encephalopathy,[5] and advocacy for medical ethics in India.He is the Director and Consultant Pediatrician at Mangla Hospital & Research Center in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh. He is currently the member of WHO's vaccine safety Net.[6]

== Early Life and Education == Dr. Vashishtha born on 26 April 1964 and completed his MBBS and MD in Pediatrics from S.N. Medical College under Agra University. In 2008,[7] he completed the Advanced Vaccinology Course (ADVAC) in Annecy, France.ADVAC Course Alumni [8]

Career == Since 1992, Dr. Vashishtha has served as the Director and Consultant Pediatrician at Mangla Hospital & Research Center in Bijnor.[1] He is widely regarded for combining clinical practice with national-level policy advocacy and academic work in pediatrics and infectious diseases.

=== Contributions to Vaccine Policy and Polio Eradication === He held key roles within the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP), serving as the National Convener and Co-chair of the Advisory Committee on Vaccines and Immunization Practices (ACVIP). In this capacity, he helped shape childhood immunization schedules and national vaccination guidelines.[9]

Dr. Vashishtha also played a pivotal role in India’s polio eradication efforts, contributing to surveillance strategies, immunization protocols, and campaign implementation that led to India being declared polio-free in 2014.[10]

=== Research on Acute Encephalopathy and Toxic Syndromes === Dr. Vashishtha conducted pioneering investigations into acute encephalopathy outbreaks among children in western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Uttarakhand.[11] His research identified the ingestion of seeds of ‘’Cassia occidentalis’’ (Kasondi) as a likely cause, shifting the earlier assumption of viral origins.[12]  

Working with the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (IITR), he helped isolate anthraquinone toxins from the plant. His work led to revised treatment protocols, public health warnings, and targeted prevention campaigns.[13]

He also participated in scientific discussions surrounding litchi-related encephalopathy outbreaks in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, providing critical assessments of the plant toxin hypothesis and advocating for a multifactorial causal approach.

COVID-19 Expertise- He Was Written extensively on COVID-19, including its variants vaccination strategies, pediatric impacts.[14] His articles featured in outlets like the wire Science and Business insider, discuss vaccine efficacy,[15] novel variants and India's vaccination drives. He actively shares COVID-19 research summaries on X under the handle.[16] [17]

He has also helped in diagnosing a multidrug resistant superbug, NDM-1 from western Uttar Pradesh from infants. [18][19]

=== Medical Ethics and Whistleblowing === In 2017, Dr. Vashishtha publicly exposed what he described as a conflict of interest between vaccine manufacturers and members of the IAP involved in vaccine policy-making.[20] He alleged undue industry influence over immunization recommendations and raised ethical concerns through editorials and public statements. [21][22]

As a result, he was expelled from leadership positions in the IAP and reportedly manhandled during a national pediatric conference. His suspension drew criticism from medical ethics groups and triggered a national debate on transparency in health policy. [23]

== Editorial and Academic Contributions == Dr. Vashishtha is the founder and editor of ‘’Pediascene’’, a professional bulletin for pediatricians. He has authored or edited multiple books and national guidelines on pediatric vaccinations[24] and infectious diseases.

He has published over 252 research articles, editorials, and textbook chapters, and serves as a peer reviewer for several journals.[1]

== Selected Publications == * Vashishtha VM, Nayak NC, John TJ. “Recurrent annual outbreaks of a hepato-myo-encephalopathy syndrome in western Uttar Pradesh, India.” ‘’Indian Pediatrics’‘, 2007. 16* “Brief profile of an epidemic of acute encephalopathy in Western Uttar Pradesh.”’‘Indian Pediatrics’‘, 2003.[25] * Vashishtha VM. “Vaccine policy in India: An overview.”’‘Indian Pediatrics’’, 2014.17 [26]

== Awards and Recognition == * Fellow of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (FIAP), 2005 * [27]Invited speaker at national and international pediatric and vaccinology conferences * Recognized for contributions to immunization policy and public health ethics.[28]

== Legacy and Impact == Dr. Vashishtha is known for his leadership in public health, particularly in vaccine safety, medical ethics, and the investigation of toxin-related pediatric illnesses. His work has influenced immunization practices, reduced childhood mortality, and shaped national discourse on health integrity.[29]

== See Also == * Indian Academy of Pediatrics * Polio eradication in India * Vaccine safety and AEFI reporting * Medical ethics in India.

  1. ^ a b c "Research Gate".
  2. ^ Vashishtha, Vipin M.; Kumar, Puneet (2021-06-03). "Development of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines: challenges, risks, and the way forward". Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics. 17 (6): 1635–1649. doi:10.1080/21645515.2020.1845524. ISSN 2164-554X. PMC 7754925. PMID 33270478.
  3. ^ Vashishtha, Vipin M.; Kamath, Sachidanand (2016-08-07). "A Brief History of Vaccines Against Polio". Indian Pediatrics. 53 Suppl 1: S20 – S27. ISSN 0974-7559. PMID 27771635.
  4. ^ Vipin Vashishtha (2017-04-10). Polio Film Bijnor Ek choti Si Bhool. Retrieved 2025-08-01 – via YouTube.
  5. ^ Sharma, Suvasini; Mishra, Devendra; Aneja, Satinder; Kumar, Rashmi; Jain, Amita; Vashishtha, Vipin M.; Expert Group on Encephalitis, Indian Academy of Pediatrics (November 2012). "Consensus guidelines on evaluation and management of suspected acute viral encephalitis in children in India". Indian Pediatrics. 49 (11): 897–910. doi:10.1007/s13312-012-0216-0. ISSN 0974-7559. PMID 23255700.
  6. ^ "Members". www.vaccinesafetynet.org. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  7. ^ "Sarojini Naidu Medical College, Agra (Ministry of Medical Education, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh)". snmcagra.ac.in. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  8. ^ "ADVAC - Advanced Course in Vaccinology". www.advac.org. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  9. ^ Jog, Pramod (26 August 2016). "IAP RECOMMENDED IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULE 2016" (PDF). IAP ACVIP. 3 (3): 58 – via Indian Academy.
  10. ^ Thacker, Naveen; Vashishtha, Vipin M.; Thacker, Deep (October 2016). "Polio Eradication in India: The Lessons Learned". Pediatrics. 138 (4): e20160461. doi:10.1542/peds.2016-0461. ISSN 1098-4275. PMID 27590898.
  11. ^ "Acute HME syndrome", Wikipedia, 2025-08-01, retrieved 2025-08-01
  12. ^ Vashishtha, Vipin M. (2016-05-08). "Outbreaks of Hypoglycemic Encephalopathy in Muzaffarpur, India: Are These Caused by Toxins in Litchi Fruit?: The Counterpoint". Indian Pediatrics. 53 (5): 399–402. ISSN 0974-7559. PMID 27254049.
  13. ^ Vashishtha, Vipin M. (September 2003). "Brief profile of an epidemic of acute encephalopathy in Western Uttar Pradesh". Indian Pediatrics. 40 (9): 920–922. ISSN 0019-6061. PMID 14530570.
  14. ^ IAP Thiruvananthapuram (2021-06-06). Covid Vaccine : All Questions Answered | Dr Vipin M Vashishtha. Retrieved 2025-08-01 – via YouTube.
  15. ^ The Lallantop (2021-05-18). Covid-19 Vaccine Covishield, Covaxin से जुड़ी ये भयानक गलती न करें, वरना कोई फायदा नहीं. Retrieved 2025-08-01 – via YouTube.
  16. ^ Thacker, Naveen; Vashishtha, Vipin M.; Thacker, Deep (October 2016). "Polio Eradication in India: The Lessons Learned". Pediatrics. 138 (4): e20160461. doi:10.1542/peds.2016-0461. ISSN 1098-4275. PMID 27590898.
  17. ^ "Emergency use authorisation of Covid-19 vaccines: An ethical conundrum". Indian Journal of Medical Ethics. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  18. ^ Vipin Vashishtha (2012-05-31). bloomberg video on MNH Bijnor. Retrieved 2025-07-31 – via YouTube.
  19. ^ "Superbugs Born in India Can Turn Knee Scrape Into Death Sentence". Bloomberg.com. Archived from the original on 2025-01-20. Retrieved 2025-08-01.
  20. ^ "'pharma money is corrupting paediatrics academy'". Outlook India. 2017-04-06. Retrieved 2025-08-01.
  21. ^ "Vaccine nexus: Whistleblower Bengaluru paediatrician seeks police help". The Times of India. 2017-01-22. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  22. ^ "Vaccination marketing by private healthcare sector: glaring malpractices". Indian Journal of Medical Ethics. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  23. ^ "Doctors condemn suspension of whistleblower". The Times of India. 2017-02-04. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  24. ^ Vashishtha, Vipin M.; Kalra, Ajay; John, T. Jacob; Thacker, Naveen; Agarwal, Anju; Ugra, Deepak; Polio Eradication Committee (September 2010). "Recommendations of National Consultative Meeting on Polio Eradication, 2010; Polio Eradication Committee, Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP)". Indian Pediatrics. 47 (9): 749–751. doi:10.1007/s13312-010-0113-3. ISSN 0974-7559. PMID 21048255.
  25. ^ "Indian Pediatrics - Editorial". www.indianpediatrics.net. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  26. ^ Vashishtha, V. M.; Nayak, N. C.; John, T. Jacob; Kumar, Amod (April 2007). "Recurrent annual outbreaks of a hepato-myo-encephalopathy syndrome in children in western Uttar Pradesh, India". The Indian Journal of Medical Research. 125 (4): 523–533. ISSN 0971-5916. PMID 17598938.
  27. ^ "Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) | IAP FIAP Awardees". iapindia.org. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
  28. ^ "31st IPA Congress". www.ipacongress.org. Retrieved 2025-08-01.
  29. ^ "Advanced Vaccinology Course in India". indvac.org. Retrieved 2025-07-29.