SARS-CoV-2 a public health emergency: challenges in vaccination in Indian setup

Authors

  • Senkadhirdasan Dakshinamurthy Department of Community Medicine, MGMCRI, SBVU, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, India
  • Abhijit V. Boratne Department of Community Medicine, MGMCRI, SBVU, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, India
  • Sadhvika Kanagat Department of Community Medicine, MGMCRI, SBVU, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20212029

Keywords:

COVID vaccine, Covishield, Covaxin, Challenges

Abstract

WHO is working in collaboration with scientists, business, and global health organizations to fasten the pandemic response. India has approved two vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin for emergency use to fight COVID-19 pandemic in the country. Even when vaccinations are provided free of cost in PHCs, some social stigma always present in communities which make hardest-to-reach remote rural areas. Enhancing access to vaccination services, provider-based interventions and increasing community demand are some areas of concern. In spite of all recommendations, certain challenges like safety of vaccines, human rights and law, trust and prevention of distrust etc. remain to be solved before planning to introduce a new vaccine in the public health system. In the first phase of the vaccination drive, frontline workers nearly from both government and private sector will get vaccinated. These include cleaners, police and paramilitary, home guards, disaster management volunteers and other jawans in civil defence, and revenue officials associated with containment and surveillance. In the second and third stage, those above 45 years of age with comorbidities and then without comorbidities will be vaccinated. Later people in age group of more than 18 years will get vaccine.

References

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) [Internet]. https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/coronavirus-disease-covid-19. Accessed on 20th January 2020.

CDC. COVID-19 and Your Health [Internet]. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/vsafe.html. Accessed on 4th January 2021.

www.ETHealthworld.com. Seven Indian pharmaceutical companies race to develop vaccine for deadly coronavirus - ET HealthWorld [Internet]. ETHealthworld.com. https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/pharma/seven-indian-pharmaceutical-companies-race-to-develop-vaccine-for-deadly-coronavirus/77051473. Accessed on 20th January 2021.

Liu WJ, Zhao M, Liu K, Xu K, Wong G, Tan W, et al. T-cell immunity of SARS-CoV: Implications for vaccine development against MERS-CoV. Antiviral Res. 2017;137:82-92.

Sempowski GD, Saunders KO, Acharya P, Wiehe KJ, Haynes BF. Pandemic Preparedness: Developing Vaccines and Therapeutic Antibodies For COVID-19. Cell. 2020;181(7):1458-63.

COVID19VaccineOG111Chapter16.pdf [Internet]. https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/COVID19VaccineOG111Chapter16.pdf. Accessed on 11th March 2021.

COVID-19 vaccines [Internet]. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/covid-19-vaccines. Accessed on 4th January 2021.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Vaccines [Internet]. https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/coronavirus-disease-(covid-19)-vaccines. Accessed on 4th January 2021.

BS2232_WHO_AAs_for_BS_18_June_2014.pdf [Internet]. https://www.who.int/biologicals/BS2232_WHO_AAs_for_BS_18_June_2014.pdf. Accessed on 4th January 2021.

COVAXIN - India’s First Indigenous Covid-19 Vaccine | Bharat Biotech [Internet]. https://www.bharatbiotech.com/covaxin.html. Accessed on 7th January 2021.

covishield_fact_sheet.pdf [Internet]. https://www.seruminstitute.com/pdf/covishield_fact_sheet.pdf. Accessed on 21st January 2021.

Writer S. Covaxin vs Covishield: How effective are they against COVID-19? [Internet]. mint. 2021. https://www.livemint.com/science/health/covaxin-vs-covishield-how-effective-are-they-against-covid-19-what-we-know-so-far-11615378469902.html. Accessed on 11th March 2021.

bharat-biotech-covaxin-emergency-use-authorization-approval-by-dcgi-cdsco-moh-and-fw.pdf [Internet]. https://www.bharatbiotech.com/images/press/bharat-biotech-covaxin-emergency-use-authorization-approval-by-dcgi-cdsco-moh-and-fw.pdf. Accessed on 7th January 2021.

Coronavirus vaccine: Under-50 with co-morbidities? Get doctor’s certificate for priority vaccine | India News - Times of India [Internet]. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/under-50-with-co-morbidities-get-doctors-certificate-for-priority-vaccine/articleshow/80106124.cms. Accessed on 6th January 2021.

DelhiMarch 5 PAN, March 5 2021UPDATED:, Ist 2021 08:52. More than 20 crore people eligible for phase 2 of Covid-19 vaccinations in India [Internet]. India Today. https://www.indiatoday.in/diu/story/crore-people-eligible-phase-coronavirus-vaccinations-india-1775801-2021-03-05. Accessed on 13th March 2021.

Fekadu L, Okeibunor J, Nsubuga P, Kipela J, Mkanda P, Mihigo R. Reaching the unreached with polio vaccine and other child survival interventions through partnership with military in Angola. Vaccine. 2016;34.

The effects of virus variants on COVID-19 vaccines [Internet]. https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/the-effects-of-virus-variants-on-covid-19-vaccines. Accessed on 31st March 2021.

Randeep Guleria AIIMS: Post-vaccination, those reinfected may have milder symptoms | India News - Times of India [Internet]. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/post-vaccination-those-reinfected-may-have-milder-symptoms-guleria/articleshow/80106535.cms. Accessed on 6th January 2021.

Global Catastrophic Risk Annual Report 2016 FINAL [Internet]. http://globalprioritiesproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Global-Catastrophic-Risk-Annual-Report-2016-FINAL.pdf. Accessed on 7th January 2021.

Thomas Z, Saha GK, Gopakumar KM, Ganguly NK. Can India lead the way in neglected diseases innovation? BMJ. 2019;364:k5396.

www.ETHealthworld.com. Testing will continue to play a distinct role in the post-vaccine world: Dr. Harsh Mahajan - ET HealthWorld [Internet]. ETHealthworld.com. https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/diagnostics/testing-will-continue-to-play-a-distinct-role-in-the-post-vaccine-world-dr-harsh-mahajan/80091300. Accessed on 6th January 2021.

Downloads

Published

2021-05-25

How to Cite

Dakshinamurthy, S., Boratne, A. V., & Kanagat, S. (2021). SARS-CoV-2 a public health emergency: challenges in vaccination in Indian setup. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 8(6), 3167–3171. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20212029

Issue

Section

Review Articles