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From Jun 21 the central government is providing 75% of vaccines at free of cost to the state governments to enhance vaccination program. In this hindsight, explain the COVID-19 vaccination program in India with major milestones and the glitches experienced during the ongoing program.

Introduction:

Covid-19 is a global pandemic which affected majority of the countries adversly. Economies have tumbled, healthcare saw a dip, mortality saw a steep rise during this pandemic. Countries are facing multiple waves of the pandemic due to mutations in the virus. The most suitable step to curb the impact of the virus is the vaccination, protective gear and sanitation.

Body:

Vaccination in India: After successful clinical trials, India has 3 vaccines that are being administered. They are:

1) Covaxin by Bharat Biotech

2) Covishield by Astrazeneca & Serum Institute of India

3) Sputnik- V by Russia & Dr. Reddy’s Labs

The different stages of vaccination can be considered as follows

The procurement & distribution of vaccines is a responsibility of Central Government. 25 % of the manufactured vaccines are available to the private players also. Central government has recently made sure that the vaccination is free of cost in Public Health Care centers and district hospitals. In some cities the drive has been extended into the interior and inaccessible parts also. Large corporate entities have also been permitted to provide vaccines. 

Conclusion:

Roughly, 3.5% of the total population of India which amounts to 5 Cr people has been fully vaccinated. Another 25 Cr have been vaccinated with single dose. The demand for vaccines is at a all-time high. People who did not get vaccinated previously due to various reasons are also turning up. All the concerned authority needs to carefully meet the demands and should be diligent enough to handle the supply-chain to make this program a success and thus prevent further complications due to the virus.