Amid the unending hue and cry due to the persisting scarcity of vaccines, the Centre on Thursday finally came out with a vaccination roadmap, which can also be called a kind of white paper. Packed with estimates, the plan  assures that by December 2021 end, there will be 2+ billion doses of vaccines (216 crore the exact figure officially claimed) which will be more than enough to inoculate the entire adult population of India. The target apparently seems to be ambitious and whether it can finally be reached is much difficult to predict at the moment. However, reading the reactions from medical experts, most of whom seem to have chosen the middle path (neither overtly optimistic nor markedly pessimistic), it can be assumed it will all depend on multiple factors intrinsically linked with the goal. It would be an excellent achievement if it’s attained, however, chances of a slip are far too many.
In terms of pure arithmetic and taking May 15 as the base date, it’s exactly 7.5 months left in hand for the plan to get implemented. Keeping aside the period from now up to July end for a while, it’s necessary to focus on the August-December part which is going to be the most crucial in the entire endeavour. According to its framer, the National Expert Group on Covid-19 Vaccine Policy, the arrival of 216 crore doses of vaccines by December end will be having a break-up of : 75 crore of Covishield; 20 crore of Novavax; Covaxin 55 crore; Bio E 30 crore; Zydus Cadila 5 crore; BB Nasal 10 crore; Gennova 6 crore and Sputnik 15.6 crore. This is a tall assurance to the people of the country, now completely Covid vaccine-dry in the sense that it promises a confident beginning of 2022 since the entire adult population will be adequately vaccinated, thereby resulting in the much sought after herd immunity. However, there are certain critical points which are not that difficult to understand. It’s not only necessary to increase production of vaccines in a massive way, the fact of availability of critical efficacy and safety data (it needs to be noted that except for Covishield and Covaxin versions, most of the others are in their ‘infancies’) that will require certain minimum time periods do become relevant. Meanwhile, for the period up to July end, as per Health Ministry’s data there’s just 51.6 crore doses available which will vaccinate only around 25 crore adults out of the estimated 90 crore who are eligible. It’s thus an admission that at least for the next 2.5 months the vaccine crisis will see little or no mitigation.
The promise is tall, but achievable. Hope the government puts all its efforts in fulfilling it.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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