- The entire country would be feeling fatigued out owing to relentless challenges thrown at us by the obdurate SARS-Cov-2 virus which is firmly ensconced with no signs of going into oblivion yet. As it stands presently, there are no visible indications of respite in the foreseeable future with one deadly variant/strain after another mutating perpetually. Despite initiating concerted efforts, the only means to control the unhindered spread of the dreaded virus, the vaccination, is failing to pick up the pace on expected lines. Even after six months from the day of commencing vaccination drive, the sheer population density is proving to be quite a challenge to penetrate inoculating eligible beneficiaries.
PC: CanalDivulgación
- Other than Covishield, Covaxin, and Sputnik V receiving emergency user authorization, there are few more vaccine candidates in the pipeline to supplement the inoculation drive. Nevertheless, it is to be noted that Covishield and Covaxin still form the bulk of the vaccines being administered nationally. Especially Covishield, which is at the forefront of the country’s anti-Covid drive since the Covaxin producing facility had to face unforeseen production struggles thereby restricting the campaign from picking up a brisk pace. In welcome news, the Government has now approved emergency use authorization for Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose vaccine which should considerably help in the coming days.
- Advisable for the authorities to be proactive to speed up domestic production. For instance, the Union Government has reserved 30 crore doses of the undertrial Corbevax with Biological E, which is also reportedly J&J’s India partner, the authorities must consider a similar advance for the J&J shot to expedite local manufacturing scale-up. Come to think of it, a one-dose jab will be more helpful in meeting the increasingly tough-looking December 31 target set for fully inoculating all adults, clearly halving the effort now centered around two-shot vaccines. As was anticipated, the asking rate for daily vaccinations to meet the December target is slowly inching towards the one-crore mark every day.
PC: Shampa Sen
- It looks more onerous task by the day. Against this backdrop, it is extremely critical to ensure there are no delays in granting emergency user authorization for vaccines that are in the final stages of trials. Some of the vaccines include Zydus Cadila’s three-dose shot, Covovax licensed by Serum Institute of India from Novavax, and Corbevax. Reports emerging indicate these vaccines will be available more realistically from October onwards. Note that over 28 crores partially vaccinated individuals will be eligible for receiving second shots which are bound to drag down further progress on first dosing a wider population. Therefore, a two-pronged strategy should be thought about forthwith.
- Firstly, it is incumbent the production of locally manufactured vaccines rises significantly to push the vaccination drive with a sense of urgency. Secondly, the placing of bulk pre-orders of new vaccines candidates should proceed immediately. There is a silver lining visible as well. It is heartening to note that daily vaccinations averaged 50 lakh last week, from 40 lakh the previous fortnight. Though way less than the expected daily target, a substantial uptick in the number noticed is indeed welcome. With all talks of the third Covid wave invariably set to unleash in the coming months, the vaccination drive must be scaled up by ensuring a steady supply of doses as envisaged.
