India has a proven track record of strong drug and vaccine manufacturing capabilities. The first locally developed Covid-19 vaccine, Covaxin, run by ICMR in collaboration with Bharat Biotech; Covishield of the Serum Institute; Sputnik (in private hospitals) has been deployed across the country. ZyCoV-D from Zydus Cadila, the world’s first placid DNA vaccine, has been received by the US and many other candidates from Indian companies are in advanced stages of testing.
Despite challenges in terms of large population and risk groups, India has been very good at managing the Covid-19 pandemic. India quickly identified gaps and quickly provided innovative surveillance and testing solutions. Our government increased testing capacity, diagnostic centers and the supply of critical equipment and medicines. With the rapid intervention of the ICMR, India has more than 2,900 Covid testing laboratories, more than 541 million samples have been tested and 1.5 million tests are done every day. The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has launched a pan-India 1000 SARS – CoV-2 RNA genome sequencing program. Our vaccination effort against Covid-19 has demonstrated the strength of India’s vaccine manufacturing capabilities to inoculate such a large population many of whom reside in the most remote villages.
With the massive support of state governments, India has been able to accelerate and expand its Covid-19 vaccine. The Center, which supports all states and UTs with free vaccines, is fulfilling our Prime Minister’s promise of free vaccines for everyone. We administered an average of 76.45 (September 21) doses of Covid-19 lakh vaccine per day. We have administered more than 1 million doses in several days recently. This is a larger figure than the entire population of various nations.
Almost 60% of the adult population of India has been vaccinated with at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. Almost 19% have been given both doses. More importantly, today more than 67% of our seniors and 68% of those aged 45-59 have received at least one dose of the vaccine. It is encouraging to see states like HP, Sikkim, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu and Goa vaccinate 100% of the eligible population with the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine. UP, Gujarat, Karnataka, MP and Haryana administer Covid-19 vaccines faster than some of the world’s leading nations. It is impressive that the CoWin digital vaccination platform has expanded to offer digital vaccination certificates to all those who are vaccinated.
These vaccination figures have been made possible not only by the effort of governments, but by the tireless work of our scientists, doctors, health workers, paramedics, coveted warriors of the nation. I join the rest of the nation in congratulating them on their selfless dedication, spirit and commitment. Special recognition is needed for our ASHA, ANM, Anganwadi workers and women’s self-help groups (SHG) for their contributions to the vaccination campaign.
While we rejoice in the achievements so far, we should not let complacency overwhelm us. The rising rate of coronavirus cases in states like Kerala and Maharashtra is a real concern. As new variants of the Covid-19 virus appear, we need to be vigilant and not neglect. India, with its “aatmavishwas” and “aatmanirbharta”, has been able to resist the Covid-19. All Indians should be proud and enthusiastically involved in the world’s largest and fastest vaccination campaign.
(The writer is Minister of the Union for Family Health and Welfare and Chemicals and Fertilizers)