ALL ABOUT VACCINES IN INDIA

 ALL ABOUT VACCINES IN INDIA

 

With the ongoing pandemic, people are still stuck at their homes working online and waiting for hope, the hope of being able to work normally. Vaccination in India has seen the utmost growth since the beginning and is equally contributing towards the lower rate of people getting infected as well as the death rates. However, the vaccination policy in India states that people above the age of 18 are eligible for getting vaccinated, AIIMS Rishikesh director has confirmed that because of the strong immunity of children below the age of 18, they are at a lower risk of getting affected with the coronavirus.

 

THE ANALYTICS

According to the recent stats, coronavirus has emerged again at a deadly pace. Along with different mutants and variants from Britain, South Africa, and more. These variants are found to be more dangerous than the virus itself. March 2021 recorded the highest rate of coronavirus cases as the world began to unlock, however, this resulted in an increase in the positivity rate providing a way for another lockdown.

 

The recent records and data show that the variants and mutants are at a much lower rate, where some states and capital Delhi have already unlocked on a trial basis with 50% opening. Some states have recorded a lower positivity rate after getting vaccinated. Health experts and the AIMS director have confirmed that a single dose of vaccine is found effective against the variants and mutants.

 

However, people still need to follow covid guidelines strictly and ensure social distancing, as the virus is dangerous and still can result in a third wave (expected in October 2021).

 

VACCINES AVAILABLE IN INDIA

The most common vaccines that are available in India are- Covaxin and Covishield, which are produced locally at the Serum Institute. Covishield is made under the license from AstraZeneca while covaxin is locally made by the second-largest producer- Bharat Biotech. Another vaccine named Sputnik is now also available in India after being approved in April. Russia has already supplied three million doses of the same. Sputnik vaccine will also start to be prepared locally in the mid of June-July.

 

 

After getting vaccinated, it might take a period of two weeks to develop antibodies against the virus. Meanwhile, the person is still advised to follow all covid guidelines and take all necessary protection. The vaccine may give a few side effects that involve - fever, headache, cold, cough, fatigue, abdominal pain, and nausea. Coming to the cost of these vaccines, government institutions provide them for free while the private center provides one dose for Rs 250. Covishield produced by the serum institute has fixed their prices retailing Rs 300 for government centers and Rs 600 for public centers. Whereas Covaxin, which is produced by Bharat Biotech, provides the vaccine for Rs 400 at government hospitals and Rs 1200 at private hospitals.

 

HOW IS INDIA HANDLING VACCINATION? 

Vaccination in India started in mid-January and is now over 210 million doses that have been administered till now. The daily vaccination doses peaked at 3.5 million in early April. With some stated planning an unlock, the third wave is still in consideration and may be riskier than the second one. Vaccination, masks, and guidelines need to strictly follow and policy needs to be rephrased. Bharat Biotech and Serum institute should be provided with more raw materials for an increase in vaccine production rate. Statistics show that only 3.5% of the total population have been fully vaccinated which is still an issue as people need to be more aware of the risks of not getting the first dose. Vaccination policy should give more priority to frontline workers and health workers. Specific campaigns can be really effective in educating and informing people about the risk of a third wave and how to avoid getting infected with the new mutants and variants.