City
Epaper

Vaccine Woes and Solutions

By Lokmat English Desk | Updated: May 12, 2021 17:55 IST

Dr Ajit BhagwatThe vaccination drive in India is limping. However, it’s not too late yet. Here is the ...

Open in App

Dr Ajit Bhagwat

The vaccination drive in India is limping. However, it’s not too late yet. Here is the present situation and some suggestions.

The main problem we are facing today is the supply of vaccine. Out of a population of 138 crores, we are left with about 75 crores if we exclude children and adults under 18 years. We need 150 crore doses of vaccine as each adult needs two doses. There are only two manufacturers in India viz Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech (BB). Presently, SII makes about 7-8 crores and BB makes about 1 crore vaccines every month. At this rate of production, it will take us about 18 months to bring in vaccine for everyone which is not acceptable. In the best of the circumstances, SII can ramp up vaccine production to 10 crores and BB to 5 crores a month. Russia can supply Sputnik V vaccine at the rate of about 5 crores per month. This will take us to the tally of about 20 crores per month. However, it will take about four months to ramp up these numbers. With this number and assuming we can efficiently vaccinate everyone, it will take about a year from now for every eligible adult to get vaccinated. This is not acceptable either. The following should be done on an emergency basis.

1.SSI and BB should ramp up production as fast as possible and the government should help them in every way to do so.

2.Dissolve patents of SII and BB temporarily and let other competent companies in India produce vaccines till the crunch is under control.

3.Procure vaccines from other sources like Russian Sputnik V. Three other vaccine candidates look promising. The DNA vaccine (for spike protein) by Zydus Cadila, the recombinant spike protein (Biological E), and self-amplifying messenger RNA (Sa-mRNA for spike protein) by Gennova can reach field application in four months. All the three may need emergency approval from the DCGI.

4.Centralisation of vaccine procurement and supply. The central government with representative from each state should sit and negotiate the price with the vaccine manufacturers. Even if the currently accepted price of Rs 150 goes up to Rs 200, India can vaccinate everyone within the stipulated budget of Rs 35,000 crore.

Vaccinating everyone before the year-end should be a reasonable goal and is achievable.

(The writer is cardiologist, Kamalnayan Bajaj Hospital

Aurangabad)

Tags: indiaAurangabadSIISerum Institute Of IndiaSerum institute of india pvt. ltdIndiUk-indiaRepublic of indiaSerum indiaIndia indiaRussiaBharat biotechKamalnayan Bajaj Hospital
Open in App

Related Stories

InternationalEarthquake of Magnitude 8.8 Is Equal to Explosion of 15,900 Atomic Bombs Like Hiroshima, Claims Grok

InternationalTsunami Warning Issued for US States and Japan After 8.8-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Off Russian Coast

InternationalEarthquake in Russia: Quake of Magnitude 8.0 Strikes Kamchatka Peninsula; Tsunami Warning Issued

MumbaiUniversity of Bristol Chooses Mumbai for Its First Overseas Campus, Set to Open in September 2026

NationalRaksha Bandhan 2025: Now You Can Send a Rakhi to Your Brother in India Post's Waterproof Envelope — Here's How to Track Your Parcel

Aurangabad Realted Stories

AurangabadMassia inducts 102 new members at first quarterly meet

AurangabadMedical waste dumped on road; Rs 50,000 fine imposed

AurangabadBlood donation camp held at Airport

AurangabadCSMC to construct shopping complex in Chikalthana soon

AurangabadCity weeps as friendship ends in a waterlogged pit