EDITORIAL
Year : 2022 | Volume
: 49 | Issue : 1 | Page : 1--2
COVID-19 vaccination in India
Shridhar C Ghagane1, Rajendra B Nerli2,
1 KAHER's Dr. Prabhakar Kore Basic Science Research Center, V. K. Institute of Dental Sciences Campus; Urinary Biomarkers Research Centre, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research, JNMC Campus, Belagavi, Karnataka, India
2 KAHER's Dr. Prabhakar Kore Basic Science Research Center, V. K. Institute of Dental Sciences Campus, Belagavi, Karnataka, India
Correspondence Address:
Rajendra B Nerli
Urinary Biomarkers Research Centre, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research, JNMC Campus, Belagavi - 590 010, Karnataka
India
How to cite this article:
Ghagane SC, Nerli RB. COVID-19 vaccination in India.J Sci Soc 2022;49:1-2
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How to cite this URL:
Ghagane SC, Nerli RB. COVID-19 vaccination in India. J Sci Soc [serial online] 2022 [cited 2023 Mar 23 ];49:1-2
Available from: https://www.jscisociety.com/text.asp?2022/49/1/1/343708 |
Full Text
The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated the use (emergency use listing [EUL]) of several COVID-19 vaccines [Table 1].[1] The first mass vaccination program started in early December 2020, and the number of vaccination doses administered is updated on a daily basis on the COVID-19 dashboard. The WHO EUL process determines whether a product can be recommended for use based on all the available data on safety and efficacy and its suitability in low- and middle-income countries. Vaccines are assessed to ensure that they meet acceptable standards of quality, safety, and efficacy using clinical trial data, manufacturing, and quality control processes.[1] The assessment weighs the threat posed by the emergency and the benefit that would accrue from the use of the product against any potential risks.{Table 1}
Benefits of Getting Vaccinated
COVID-19 vaccines provide strong protection against serious illness, hospitalization, and death. There is also some evidence that being vaccinated will make it less likely that one will pass the virus on to others, which means the decision to get the vaccine also protects those around you.[2]
The WHO recommends that the people at the highest risk of COVID-19 need to be vaccinated first. This includes people who are more likely to get severe disease if they are infected (older persons and people with existing health conditions) and people who are more likely to be exposed to the virus (such as health workers).[3] People who are pregnant have a higher risk of serious illness and preterm birth if they are infected with COVID-19, so the WHO recommends that all the population is also prioritized for vaccination once the first priority groups have been vaccinated.[2] The WHO-authorized COVID-19 vaccines are safe for most people aged 18 years and older, including those with preexisting conditions of any kind, such as autoimmune disorders. These conditions include hypertension, diabetes, asthma, pulmonary, liver, and kidney disease, and chronic infections that are stable and controlled.[4]
Indian Vaccination Program
India began the administration of COVID-19 vaccines on January 16, 2021. As of March 12, 2022, India has administered over 1.8 billion doses overall, including first, second, and precautionary (booster) doses of the currently approved vaccines.[2],[3] In India, 95% of the eligible population (15+) has received at least one shot, and 80% of the eligible population (15+) is fully vaccinated [Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3].[4] Cumulative doses administered across the country Total doses administered across the country as of March 16, 2022.{Figure 1}{Figure 2}{Figure 3}
Vaccine Maitri
Vaccine Maitri (English: Vaccine Friendship) is a humanitarian initiative undertaken by the Indian government to provide COVID-19 vaccines to countries worldwide. The government started providing vaccines from January 20, 2021.[5] As of March 6, 2022, India had delivered around 16.3 crore doses of vaccines to 96 countries. Of these, 1.43 crore doses were gifted to 46 countries by the Government of India. The remaining 10.71 crore were supplied by the vaccine producer under its commercial, and 4.15 crore doses were supplied through COVAX obligations. In late March 2021, the Government of India temporarily froze exports of the COVISHIELD, citing India's own COVID crisis and the domestic need for these vaccines.[6] The Health Minister of India, Mr. Mansukh Mandaviya, announced in September that India would resume the export of vaccines from October to the rest of the world.[7]
References
| 1 | Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): Vaccines. Available from: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/question-and-answers-hub/q-a-detail/coronavirus-disease-(covid-19). [Last accessed on 2022 Mar 19]. |
| 2 | Nerli RB, Ghagane SC. COVID-19: Continues to be a matter of health concern. J Sci Soc 2021;48:119. |
| 3 | Nerli RB, Ghagane SC. Safety of health-care workers during COVID-19 times. Indian J Health Sci Biomed Res 2020;13:61. |
| 4 | Nerli RB, Sharma M, Ghagane SC, Gupta P, Patil SD, Shubhashree M, et al. Acute kidney injury in patients with COVID-19. Indian J Health Sci Biomed Res 2020;13:64. |
| 5 | Vaccination State Wise. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Available from: https://www.mohfw.gov.in/. [Last accessed on 2022 Mar 12]. |
| 6 | Vaccination Statistics. Available from: https://www.vaccinate-india.in. [Last accessed on 2022 Mar 12]. |
| 7 | COVID-19 Vaccination in India. Available from: https://www.cowin. [Last accessed on 2022 Mar 18]. |
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