Good news for india on the vaccine front

Good news for india on the vaccine front

The announcement by British drugmaker AstraZeneca that its Covid-19 vaccine, jointly developed with University of Oxford, has an average efficacy of 70% is good news for India. In one dosage regime, the efficacy was 90%. With the Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, having procured the licence to mass-produce the vaccine, India will be able to begin inoculating against Covid-19. The government must now ready the logistics of transporting and storing the vaccine for effective distribution. The AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine can be stored in normal refrigerators, unlike the ones from Pfizer and Moderna, which need to be stored at ultra-low temperatures.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with chief ministers on Tuesday will focus on an effective and equitable vaccine distribution mechanism. While chief ministers must highlight any issues, logistical challenges or other difficulties or concern, state governments must not deviate from the plan that is finalised to avoid any chaos or breakdown in vaccine roll-out. There must be clarity on the cost-sharing between the Centre and states. It is critical to remember that the initial batches of vaccines would need to rationed, instead of being administered randomly. The vaccines should be given following a hierarchy of priority: health workers, then frontline Covid workers, senior citizens with comorbidities, and then other senior citizens.

Once vaccine availability is no longer a challenge, the rest of the population can get their shots. The roll-out of the vaccine will in some senses be the ultimate test of India’s ability to function effectively as a unit.

As more data comes in from Phase 3 trials, AstraZeneca would refine their dosing strategy. If necessary, AstraZeneca can license other vaccine manufacturers in India, to speed up production for the world, helping fulfil the commitment of the G20 to provide poor nations with the vaccine. India should continue with its efforts to develop an indigenous vaccine, and strike deals with other vaccine developers.