India's vaccination campaign: Give credit where it's due

Nearly 68.3% of all adults older than 18 years have received at least 1 dose and nearly lin 4 Indians (24.8%) are fully vaccinated.

- VIVEK GUMASTE

On 29 September, India's vaccination program reached a milestone: a quarter of the eligible adult population has now been fully vaccinated and more than two-thirds have received at least one dose.

In May earlier this year with the Delta variant wreaking havoc, hospitals running out of beds, oxygen supplies dwindling and dead bodies piling up in front of crematoriums, India was in the throes of an extraordinary existential crisis. The public was in a state of panic and naysayers ruled the roost, screaming hysterically and indulging in wild ranting. The Central government was at the receiving end of a vicious vitriolic campaign that was part justified and part unsubstantiated and at times appeared to be more self-serving than altruistic in its intent.

Accusations of tardiness filled the air. Not placing orders for vaccines in a timely manner, not approving vaccines licenced abroad, lack of fiscal support for local manufacturers and a confused vaccination policy were at the heart of allegations levelled against the government.

After an initial period of hesitancy and flip-flops, the Central government swung into action, formulating a new vaccine policy in which the Centre would assume responsibility for procuring and distributing Covid-19 vaccines. Crucial to this new vaccine policy was an increase in supply of the vaccine and streamlining the vaccination process.

The government incentivized domestic vaccine companies to increase their capacity, urged them to open new production plants and imported vaccines from abroad. Fast track approval was given to vaccines certified by regulatory agencies in the US, UK and Japan. And the vaccine was given free of cost via government channels.