After Milestone, A Long Road

Context: Vaccine aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) has helped India achieve this remarkable feat of administering 100 crore vaccine doses in less than 10 months.

Steps taken to achieve the goal of 100-crore vaccine in India

• A collective effort: Achievement made possible through concerted efforts of scientists, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, administrators and government.
• Leveraging science infrastructure: India has taken crucial steps to strengthen basic science research infrastructure in last two decades, which helped in ramping up facilities for development of vaccines.
  • India invested huge funds to create an ecosystem that encouraged scientists as well as entrepreneurs to collaborate and take up the challenge of developing vaccines in such a short time.
  • Major investments were made in high-risk projects, collaboration between academia and industry was proactively encouraged and infrastructure to support vaccine development was bolstered.
• Expanding vaccine manufacturing ecosystem: Various vaccination programmes began in less than a year.
  • Four vaccines are manufactured in India - Bharat biotech’s Covaxin, Serum Institute’s Covishield, Cadila Zydus ZycovD vaccine and Russian-developed Sputnik V.
• Adequate safety measures: Expert panel was set up to in 2020 to ensure safety and efficacy of vaccines and to monitor the Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFI) at national level.
  • Investigation and causality training were organised, most of them were trained to identify and address the common adverse effect of newly developed vaccine.
  • Waiting area was set up at every vaccine centre, where people can be observed for 30 minutes post-vaccination to manage any severe reaction promptly and refer them to nearest health facility.
• Role of IT: Cowin platform played critical role in smooth delivery of vaccines.
• Awareness programmes: Crucial in convincing people on need for shots and assure them of their safety.
  • Country’s experience in polio eradication worked to advantage while dealing with misinformation around Covid-19 vaccines.
  • Iconic personalities, religious and community leaders were also involved in campaign.
• Media sensitisation: Social media was scanned systematically to counter rumours and misinformation about vaccine.
• Ease of Governance: India’s vaccination campaign has been a well-coordinated operation involving several departments other than the health departments.

Way Forward: Overarching philosophy of vaccine aatmanirbharta holds the key to accomplish tasks ahead

• An unfinished business: Despite of a milestone achievement, there is still a long road to go, as numerous of adults and children are yet to be vaccinated.
  • The last mile could be a difficult road due to pockets of vaccine hesitancy but concerted efforts will help the country achieve full immunisation.
• Keeping a tab on emergence of any new variants in the coming weeks and months and preparing the health system for any future upsurge of cases will help win this battle against Covid-19.