Time is ticking, the state governments and various hospitals across the nation are keen to procure the vaccine stocks to roll out the expanded vaccination drive announced by the government from May 1, for which the registration on the Co-Win app commences on April 28. It is to open up vaccination against COVID-19 to everyone who is more than 18 years old. However, as factors stand, there are increasing issues more than restricted stocks as the vaccine businesses are channelizing the offered vaccine doses for the Central government.
This is in addition to lots of unanswered concerns on the problems about final pricing and actual share of supplies and the precise modalities to execute the expanded vaccination drive. The stock of vaccines with the hospitals today is below the old technique and targeted at meeting the requirements of the population that is 45 years and above, some of whom are awaiting the second dose. According to a senior leader of a major private hospital, these stocks can’t be diverted to the younger age group and there is nevertheless no clarity on meeting the supplies and the pricing for the expanded age group.
TheSpuzz Online learns that vaccine makers like Serum Institute, for instance, which is the biggest maker of the vaccine at the moment in the nation, are seeking forward to clarity from the central government on these modalities important for the continuation of the vaccination drive in the nation.
There are currently aggressive demands for vaccines getting made by the states. TheSpuzz Online reliably learns that various states and hospitals have reached out to the Indian vaccine-makers – for instance, at least more than 20 states apart from various hospitals have currently approached Serum Institute of India. Apparently, the demand is for various million doses for every state but then, as it seems, it all hinges on the will need for clarity on the modalities of how this is to be executed? Little is also recognized on how are the businesses to choose which state to provide to and exactly where not to and why the vaccination can’t be based on red zones and targeted 1st to regions that are in higher will need and what safeguards are place in location to make certain a fair distribution.
However, it is not as if life will alter overnight. Because, even if all clarity – such as that on final pricing and share to several entities – is in location, the vaccine makers might not be capable to quickly assistance as they are at the moment busy finishing the supplies of vaccines currently booked by the Centre. Serum Institute, for instance, it is learnt will be busy till about May 10 attempting to meet what ever remains of its provide commitments made to the Central government.
Thereafter, if the modalities are clear on the supplies to the states and hospitals, vaccine makers like Serum Institute could start their supplies. Bharat Biotech is nevertheless not sharing facts on the quantum of demand made by several states and how it will be dividing the kitty in between the states and the hospitals.
The vaccines are all also nevertheless below emergency use authorization and thus clarity on their supplies is important.
A thorny problem that requirements sorting out is soon after the 50 % of total supplies are made to the Central government, how is the remaining 50 % to be divided in between the states and the hospitals. There is nevertheless no clarity on the final rates, even although vaccine makers have announced the rates, there are reports currently of the Supreme Court in search of more clarity on the rationality underlying the vaccine pricing apart from reports of even the Centre attractive to the vaccine makers to minimize their rates.
For the moment, one can only hope it does not finish up in chaos and that the government methods in – even as a last-minute move – to clarify and address all the issues.