There are still several gaps in the vaccination policy which needed to be filled. The central government is fully relying on the app based, prior registration methodology, which is not going to work, particularly in rural areas to achieve the target of 100% vaccination.
V.S.Pandey
Recently, Prime Minister Modi, while addressing the nation, announced centralized procurement of vaccines for states, reversing the centre’s earlier vaccination policy. It is a welcome step as the earlier policy was flawed on various counts. It is never late to realize one’s mistake and correct it. These glaring policy flaws were repeatedly pointed out in these columns during the past six months. Repeatedly, the central government was urged , through these columns to revisit its policy of decentralized procurement of vaccines. Finally, the central government has realized these flaws and revised its stand on decentralized procurement but still various glaring gaps exist in the process of vaccination across the vast expanse of our country. The central government is still relying on the app based, prior registration methodology, which is not going to work, particularly in rural areas.
Our country has the requisite experience and expertise in not only production of vaccines but carrying out the actual vaccination programme. Looking at the conditions prevailing in our country , it would be absolutely necessary to adopt the door to door vaccination strategy- which has been the hallmark of our universal immunization programmes in the past . It is surprising that those who are decision makers and at implementation levels of bureaucracy have kept silent on this issue, despite being fully aware of the ground realities regarding lack of availability of required infrastructure and smart mobile facilities with people residing in rural areas. Are we not aware that most of our rural population cannot read or write in English but all our apps are totally English centric? Secondly , operating an app and fixing appointments , requests etc is not easy for a large section of our population. Penetration of mobiles and net connectivity are still very poor and not within the reach of large sections of our population. Despite all these facts being in public knowledge, why insistence on the requirement of pre fixing of date and time for receiving jabs, is a question which begs answers. Has our governance structure developed a total disconnect with the ground realities prevailing in our country ?
Another reality we need to face and counter is the misinformation about the corona vaccination. Due to poor literacy levels , we faced similar problems in the past during the polio vaccination programme also. A massive public education and information campaign has to be launched and services of the administrative machinery to be utilized to not only sensitize people about the benefits of vaccination but to rope in the community leaders to ensure the success of the campaign . Keeping in mind our past experience of implementing various kinds of vaccination programmes, we need to adopt the door to door vaccination programme at the earliest, otherwise we will soon be encountering a much bigger problem.
Fortunately , after some delay , the governments have woken up to the necessity of vaccinating the whole population, immediately, to save the country from any further surge of the corona virus, which almost devastated our population for nearly two months. The public became helpless and was made to suffer every kind of shortage including hospital beds, doctors, oxygen , medicines, injections , ambulances and cremation facilities. This was the most traumatic time any Indian had faced during his or her lifetime with almost every family losing their near and dear ones during the second wave of corona virus. The experience of other nations has shown us that unless we fully vaccinate our population , we will be made to face many such surges of corona virus ,leading to further misery, death and economic destruction.
India has chalked out a plan to ensure availability of enough vaccines for its requirements. But the biggest challenge awaits us- ensuring that people receive their required two jabs as per schedule. Ensuring success of this immunization programme will necessarily require a radical change in strategy from app based system to nationwide door to door vaccination programme. Undoubtedly, the people occupying highest bureaucratic positions have been involved in various kind of vaccination programmes in the past ,and despite knowing the ground realities, how could they finalise the current strategy of decentralized procurement of vaccines, app based vaccination schedule fixation and charging of hefty fee for vaccines by private sector? This remains a mystery.The past governments provided free vaccination to our population for all these decades after independence, then why crores of people were being denied free vaccination. Aren’t they citizens of this country and paying taxes?
Time is running out for us as most of the states are in the unlock mode and if we falter on the vaccination front now, then the nation will be made to pay dearly again. Undoubtedly, we cannot be under lockdown indefinitely, and to survive we need to allow economic activities to return with full force. However, that will be possible only when we succeed in avoiding any further surge of corona. For ensuring that, we must vaccinate our population rapidly and efficiently. Lets remember, we are a nation with nearly a billion and half population and we will need some time to fully vaccinate our population. Its a race against time which we have to win with wise strategy and effective implementation. The time has come for prudent policies and honest delivery.
(Vijay Shankar Pandey is former Secretary to government of India)
