Vaccine Hesitancy: India has been a victim of the Covid-19 pandemic for the past two years, along with each and every other country on the planet. It has proved to be extraordinarily disastrous and negatively impacted the lives of civilians all around. The condition has not yet improved but is expected to turn into one by the usage of vaccines very soon.
Vaccination in India and the possible benefits
The vaccinations related to the Coronavirus have been developed by experts and are now being delivered to various individuals all around the globe. The vaccination proves to be beneficial but does not guarantee that an individual would not turn Corona positive. It, however, has to date proven to prevent extreme conditions or death to some extent.
Vaccination is essential in order to save lives and prevent the hardships that one might go through if he or she turns Corona positive. We all must understand that it was the first disease that managed to put the entire planet into an extensive lockdown, keeping everything shut for a duration of a year or more.
The use of masks and vaccines in the United States
The ending of the pandemic is yet not confirmed, but it could be met faster if the entire population gets vaccinated and follows the precautions with care. The United States recently abolished the use of masks for individuals who were wholly vaccinated and advised the use of the same only to the individuals who were not vaccinated. However, it mentioned and guided all its citizens to follow social distancing in a manner that is appropriate for all. Later the World health Organization advised everyone to consider back the use of masks due to the evolving delta variant until the condition is positively stable and favorable.
Types of vaccines available in India and their features on an individual level
Reaching herd immunity, means vaccinating a certain percent of the population that breaks the transmission chain, is essential. Vaccination is not only for the safety of others but that of yours too. It will provide you immunity against the Coronavirus and the severe conditions that it might bring along. India presently has three types of vaccines that are being employed against the Coronavirus, namely Covishield, Covaxin, and Sputnik, which have recently come into existence.
Speaking of the types, the Covishield vaccine is developed by the weaker version of the common cold virus that forces and causes the immune system of a human to begin with the process of making antibodies for the attacks against any Coronavirus infection. The two doses for Covishield are scheduled about 8 to 12 weeks apart.
Covaxin is developed by Bharat biotech. It involves the usage of samples of the Coronavirus that India’s National Institute of Virology isolates. It uses the inactivated versions of the killed Coronavirus, which is thus safe to be injected into a human body. However, the immune system and cells recognize the deadly virus as live and try to act against them by building antibodies.
Sputnik V was the first vaccine in existence against the Coronavirus, but because of the controversy it generated, it could not be used. This vaccine employs the use of harmless viruses which carry a tiny fragment of Coronavirus into the human body. The two doses for this vaccine are given at a time span of 21 days apart.
What does the Health Minister of India say?
The union minister of health and family welfare, Harshvardhan, mentioned in one of his statements that the entire Indian population of adults would possibly be vaccinated by the end of 2021 if things go in a favorable manner. He also added that the central government is focused on supporting and assisting all the vaccine manufacturers in order to furnish the required number of vaccines and turn the conditions safer as soon as possible.
According to him, the third wave would bring significant danger to the younger section of society, especially children.
Several challenges being faced by the vaccination drive in India
- Avoiding vaccination and use of masks in a proper manner
However, in spite of spreading awareness about the importance of vaccination and the wonders that it would do in the lives of civilians, it is seen that a significant section of people are avoiding getting vaccinated. Instead of being supportive with the vaccination drive, they go out publicly without proper usage of masks and become a carrier of the virus leading to transmission.
- Cost of vaccination
The other issues that arise are the lack of vaccines and the amount required to import or develop the required number. The people who are well enough to pay for the vaccines are considering the free ones in order to save a few cents, while they do not understand the need to provide free vaccines to the economically weaker section. The government is bearing upon all the cost of vaccination which is turning it a bit difficult to cope up with. The condition will possibly be more manageable if the more affluent section tries to pay for the vaccine and allows the impoverished community of people to make use of the free ones.
- Lack of surety about the success rate of vaccines
The other difficulty that stands in the way of the vaccination drive is the lack of surety of what effects this vaccine might have on individuals ranging from children to elders. The success rate of the vaccines is yet not confirmed and thus leaves a question mark in the minds of people about the thought of being vaccinated. However, one must understand that even if a vaccine fails to provide protection against the Coronavirus, it is definitely successful in providing a thin shield.
The government can possibly overcome the above challenges in the next few weeks or months by proper allocation of resources and management skills. The process could turn a bit easier if the government allows the private sector organizations to hold vaccination drives on a greater level. Proper awareness and knowledge of what the vaccination is capable of would also generate motivation in the minds of citizens and push them towards getting vaccinated soon.
Edited by Aishwarya Ingle
