THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As India launches the world’s most advanced and largest vaccination campaign against Covid-19, the country will face the daunting challenge of rapidly scaling up circulation of the vaccines to provide immunity for the whole population, two well – known Indian scientists at WHO have said.
This daunting challenge is not only for India but also for the governments around the world as they begin to protect their populations to deal with the pandemic, said Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Chief WHO scientist, and Dr Hamsadvani Kuganantham, Consultant, WHO, note.
On Sunday, the General Drug Control Agency (CDSCO), India’s drug regulator, had approved the Oxford Covishield vaccine, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII), and Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for emergency use limited to the face heroes and old men. in the country.
Currently, there are 45 candidate vaccines in clinical evaluation and 156 candidate vaccines in preclinical evaluation, WHO scientists said.
COVAX, a worldwide collaboration to develop, produce and equitable access to Covid-19 medications and vaccines, is co-led by the Consortium for Epidemic Preparation Innovation (MSI). CEPI), Gavi (the Vaccine Alliance established by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), and the World Health Organization (WHO).
“It is the only global initiative working with governments and manufacturers to make Covid-19 vaccines available worldwide to both higher-income and higher-income countries. lower-in, ”they wrote in an article for Manorama Yearbook 2021.
“The goal of COVAX is to deliver two billion doses of safe, effective vaccines that have passed WHO regulatory and / or pre-approval approval, by the end of 2021.
These vaccines will be offered equally to all participating countries, depending on their numbers, giving priority to health care workers, then expanding to cover these groups. -injured, such as the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions, “the experts said.
Other doses will then be available based on rural need, vulnerability and threat of Covid-19.
The scientists said it was equally important to ensure consistent monitoring, detection, testing and treatment.
“Vaccines will help us to achieve herd immunity but, until then, we must continue to use the non-pharmacological measures to prevent infection and spread,” said Dr. Swaminathan and Dr. Kuganantham.
“What is clear is that in most parts of the world the virus has a foothold, and the transmission will increase as soon as public health control measures are in place.
Non-pharmacological interventions such as body speed and mask wear reduce transmission and, in fact, keep infection and death rates down, ”they observed.
Citing the global health security index published last year, they said no country is willing to treat a pandemic or pandemic.
They concluded that most countries lack the capabilities of institutional health systems for epidemic and pandemic response.
Regarding the reopening of schools, the scientists said that schools work not alone but within the community.
Therefore, anything that affects the community affects the schools as well.
Data show that while schools have moved online, an estimated 463 million children worldwide do not have access to remote education, the article said. one-third of the world’s children and one in four countries does not currently have a re-opening date for their schools.
“This has devastating consequences that will affect children throughout their lives. They will be more vulnerable to physical and emotional violence, more prone to child labor, suffer sexual abuse and strengthen cycles. further poverty.
We need decision makers to keep a close eye on the factors and ensure that there is a safe environment for the children, “they said.
Recognizing that there are many lessons from the pandemic that can be learned to adapt and prepare for the future, the experts said, “This pandemic will come to an end, but the world must work together to make sure we are better prepared next time.
Solutions can only be found through science and loyalty. ”
This daunting challenge is not only for India but also for the governments around the world as they begin to protect their populations to deal with the pandemic, said Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Chief WHO scientist, and Dr Hamsadvani Kuganantham, Consultant, WHO, note.
On Sunday, the General Drug Control Agency (CDSCO), India’s drug regulator, had approved the Oxford Covishield vaccine, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII), and Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for emergency use limited to the face heroes and old men. in the country.
Currently, there are 45 candidate vaccines in clinical evaluation and 156 candidate vaccines in preclinical evaluation, WHO scientists said.
COVAX, a worldwide collaboration to develop, produce and equitable access to Covid-19 medications and vaccines, is co-led by the Consortium for Epidemic Preparation Innovation (MSI). CEPI), Gavi (the Vaccine Alliance established by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), and the World Health Organization (WHO).
“It is the only global initiative working with governments and manufacturers to make Covid-19 vaccines available worldwide to both higher-income and higher-income countries. lower-in, ”they wrote in an article for Manorama Yearbook 2021.
“The goal of COVAX is to deliver two billion doses of safe, effective vaccines that have passed WHO regulatory and / or pre-approval approval, by the end of 2021.
These vaccines will be offered equally to all participating countries, depending on their numbers, giving priority to health care workers, then expanding to cover these groups. -injured, such as the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions, “the experts said.
Other doses will then be available based on rural need, vulnerability and threat of Covid-19.
The scientists said it was equally important to ensure consistent monitoring, detection, testing and treatment.
“Vaccines will help us to achieve herd immunity but, until then, we must continue to use the non-pharmacological measures to prevent infection and spread,” said Dr. Swaminathan and Dr. Kuganantham.
“What is clear is that in most parts of the world the virus has a foothold, and the transmission will increase as soon as public health control measures are in place.
Non-pharmacological interventions such as body speed and mask wear reduce transmission and, in fact, keep infection and death rates down, ”they observed.
Citing the global health security index published last year, they said no country is willing to treat a pandemic or pandemic.
They concluded that most countries lack the capabilities of institutional health systems for epidemic and pandemic response.
Regarding the reopening of schools, the scientists said that schools work not alone but within the community.
Therefore, anything that affects the community affects the schools as well.
Data show that while schools have moved online, an estimated 463 million children worldwide do not have access to remote education, the article said. one-third of the world’s children and one in four countries does not currently have a re-opening date for their schools.
“This has devastating consequences that will affect children throughout their lives. They will be more vulnerable to physical and emotional violence, more prone to child labor, suffer sexual abuse and strengthen cycles. further poverty.
We need decision makers to keep a close eye on the factors and ensure that there is a safe environment for the children, “they said.
Recognizing that there are many lessons from the pandemic that can be learned to adapt and prepare for the future, the experts said, “This pandemic will come to an end, but the world must work together to make sure we are better prepared next time.
Solutions can only be found through science and loyalty. ”