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As India Gets Approval For Rollout Of ‘Atmanirbhar’ Vaccines, Politics Takes Prominence Over Health

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With India being granted emergency approval for two of its vaccines, SII’s ‘Covishield’ and Bharat Biotech’s ‘Covaxin’ for restricted emergency use, the country stands proud of its ‘atmanirbhar’ products that would soon be in use.

The humongous task ahead is to ensure immunisation of a population that is more than 1.38 billion. At such a juncture, where the efficacy of the COVID vaccines is anyway under the radar, what India needs least, is a political war of words. Not only will it lead to a decrease in trust levels, but will also confuse the masses, who are now, looking forward with baited breath to get immunised.

The opposition has criticised the approval of Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, stating that it lacks efficacy data which shows the vaccine’s effectiveness before it was approved for emergency use. Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor and Jairam Ramesh, and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav had pointed out that Covaxin has not yet completed Phase 3 trials.

Adar Poonawala (File pic)

In response, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan criticised Congress and other opposition leaders over their comments and condemned politization of this issue. He said that those spreading rumours should know that EUA for Covaxin is differently conditional – in clinical trial mode EUA for Covaxin is different from Covishield because its use will be in clinical trial mode. All Covaxin recipients will be tracked, monitored as if they’re in trial.

Also Read: Covishield Vaccine To Cost Rs 200 Per Dose For Govt, Rs…

On the other hand, Bharat Biotech MD Krishna Ella has refuted Dr. Randeep Guleria’s (Director AIIMS) statement that Covaxin is a backup vaccine. He said that people should be responsible before making such statements.

The big question, however, remains – will this help the cause? At a time when the world is fighting a bitter battle against COVID and all efforts are dedicated towards ensuring a safe vaccine for people, India’s efforts cannot be downplayed. With our largeness, population density, intense demographic issues and mass acceptance, India has to quickly get into the act of procuring these vaccines and administering them.

Can the country, then, afford a political disagreement? Can the government, at this stage, not want to be sure of the results they are promising? With all eyes centred towards the vaccine in India, they cannot afford to go wrong.

Yes, tests and trials have to be completed as per guidelines.

The Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer of vaccines, is locally producing the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, known as Covishield in India. It has stockpiled 40 million to 50 million doses and plans to produce 300 million doses by July and has pledged 50 percent of its production for India.

Even though India may face infrastructure issues for storing vaccines like the Pfizer one, which requires extremely low temperatures, India’s strength can also come from its experience at handling mass immunisation programs in the past.

What will determine the success will then be the vaccine efficacy itself, effectiveness of the cold chain infrastructure and post vaccine tracking, especially, for the second dose. For this, all state governments, will have to work in tandem with the centre and put aside their political differences. Health right now, should be priority.

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