India may get EUA for COVID-19 vaccines in weeks: Says Govt
Some COVID-19 vaccine may get emergency use authorization (EUA) in India over the next few weeks. According to Rajesh Bhushan, health secretary, around 300 million people would be vaccinated in the initial tranche.
Bhushan stated that there are several vaccine prospects in various development phases, and a few of them may obtain approval in the next few weeks.
In India, Pfizer had requested for EUA, followed by Astra Zeneca’s Covishield vaccine, which is being produced in India by the Serum Institute of India, Pune.
He stated a EUA has been requested for India’s Bharat Biotech’s COVID-19 vaccine, referred to as Covaxin, from the Indian drug regulatory authority. Covaxin is being developed in partnership with the government-run Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
The Indian government has classified 300 million individuals, consisting of healthcare employees, policemen, and citizens aged above 50 years, will certainly be vaccinated on a priority basis.
Bhushan stated that each Indian who has to be administered with the COVID-19 vaccine would be immunized. The whole vaccination program will be completed in a period of a year.
Over 154,000 healthcare employees had actually been identified to assist
carry out the immunization process, and the nation has adequate cold chain centers to vaccinate the first 30 million people.Challenges ahead
However, there are a few challenges. Prior to the onset of the COVID-19, vaccination for kids in India was irregular, but it is least compared to India’s Indigenous communities, where only 56% of infants are immunized.
Additionally, health officials have to make certain that the focus on COVID-19 vaccines doesn’t interfere with existing immunization programs. That implies that more people must be taught to administer immunizations.
The immunization process of adults will certainly need separate medical staff rather than pediatricians and may encounter more attrition to the vaccine.
Annually, India immunizes around 26 million newborns and 30 million expecting women with 300 million vaccine dosages.
According to Bhushan, India would depend on its current immunization programs, which are amongst the largest worldwide.
