Last year when the coronavirus pandemic started, everybody was eagerly waiting for the vaccine. Because all were thinking that only vaccine could save this mankind from such a deadly disease. And at last, after a long waiting period vaccine arrived and we, the common, people of India relieved with happiness.
But soon discussion started about the efficacy of the vaccine. All were questioning like a scientist about the effectiveness of the vaccine. Those who never heard about the vaccine, they also open their mouth about the bad feeling and side effect of the vaccine. All we’re saying that vaccine is not possible without proper trial.
Question over efficacy
All opposite party leaders, self-declared intellectual and some doctors also come forward to question government approval for emergency use of vaccine after few trials.
This produces a large impact on the society of India; hence it results in a low response of vaccination all over India. Though it was opened for doctors, front line workers and all hospital paramedical staffs. They also seemed to be reluctant to take the vaccine. This reluctancy, social media news which questions the potency of a vaccine causes a very low response of the vaccination all over India.
Shortage started
In my opinion, this causes govt of India to think over it whether to give more order to the same vaccine or not. They might be thinking to purchase some foreign vaccines. This was the time when the second wave was still not hit in any part of India.
People started enjoying a low level of a pandemic. All were happy that corona infection has reduced significantly. This low response goes on for over a month. Another problem with vaccination was improper infrastructure and support mechanism. All things were new hence it takes time to institute the things.
Second wave
In the second phase of vaccination, it started for 45 plus individuals and that was the starting point when in true sense vaccination started. By that time corona has started raising his heads in some regions of India, and now people started to run for vaccination. And huge demand for vaccine started. The second wave started from Maharashtra and within few weeks the toll of Maharashtra reached up to 60 thousand when all India total cases in 24 hours were below 1 lakh. But as it was restricted to only the Maharashtra region, the politician did not pay attention to the severity of the problem. They did not think that when a virus from china can spread to the whole world within a few months, then why the virus of Maharashtra will not take the whole of India under its umbrella.
This overlooking of problem creates a huge menace now and India has more than 4 lakh cases every day.
Vaccine lost
Later from 1st may GOI announced the vaccine for all individual above 18 and suddenly vaccine lost from the market. Govt had no vaccine. All started crying for the vaccine but all in vain. Because this huge demand can not be fulfilled by any vaccine company.
Because of low response, these companies have not expanded their capacities for more production. And that is not possible within a month now.
Now everybody can wait only and blame each other.
This was the main reason for the shortage of vaccines. Now vaccine companies decided to raise their production but all these require about a minimum of three months to set the infrastructure for production.
Another reason why we have not foreseen the probability of shortage that, we were thinking about the production of the company is sufficient. But we have not kept in mind that these companies are bonded for export according to their advance contract with the countries. But India was standstill to make the contract.
When India vaccinated 39 lakh frontline workers in the first two weeks after January 16, 1.6 crore vaccines were exported to many countries.
By April 1 when the drive was open for all above 45, India has exported 6.5 crore doses of vaccines.
Due to the shortage in the vaccine, inoculation suddenly dropped from 35 lakh each day in the first week of April to 21 lakh in the last week of April.
In May the daily average dropped further to 16 lakh doses being administered per day.
Covaxin has enhanced production and was manufacturing 2 crore doses in April and expects to make it 3.5 crore doses in June.
Covishield also expects to produce 10 crore doses a month by July. Meanwhile, the first consignment of Russia’s single-dose vaccine, Sputnik has arrived but it will not be available until June.
And supply is nowhere close to what is needed. Serum Institute is expected to produce about 7 crore doses in May, and Bharat Biotech an additional 2 crore. That’s a total of 9 crore doses a month. They are expected to increase production further but that will take time.
Even vaccinating 70% population, to achieve herd immunity, would require some 87 crore doses. This does not account for wastage, which means more stocks are needed.
To be able to administer all of these doses, India needs to be giving 35 lakh doses a day.
An appeal
Hence friend, nothing in our hands now. Even the manufacturers are helpless. So as we waited for the vaccine to invent, let’s wait for the vaccine to get produce a sufficient amount so that everyone will be benefited. Some countries had made a wise decision by ordering large numbers of doses by paying an advance amount to companies. Hence we can’t blame now those companies and stopped their exports. One thing to keep in mind, we have not stopped vaccination. Daily we are administrating few lakh doses.
Hence some wise people like us should wait calmly and support people who need this vaccine in a true sense.
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