Growing COVID-19 vaccination coverage in India is not enough, warn doctors, who say the cost of people not getting vaccinated could lead to a new outbreak.
“If people decide not to get vaccinated due to hesitation and doubt, or even if vaccination is delayed for logistical reasons, the potential for a new outbreak of COVID-19 is very high. New forms of SARS-CoV-2 are sprouting up, which may be more permeable and resistant to vaccines,” said Mubashir Ali, senior, internal medicine, Apollo Telehealth.
Stating that vaccination is still a matter of choice in India, he said a coordinated pan-India campaign can reduce the impact of the pandemic.
“It’s a technically feasible thing, but due to population-scale vaccination, geography and terrain and the process taking too long, it can be hampered,” he said.
Dr. Ali said that promoting the use of vaccines would require an understanding of whether people are ready to vaccinate and why they are willing or unwilling to do so.
“So, the need of the hour is to speed up the vaccination process and drive, spread awareness about the disease and its effects and ensure there is no vaccine hesitation by educating people in the right way. The world has a collective responsibility in fighting this pandemic; Therefore, continued research on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitation should be a priority,” he observed.
Citing the example of Germany, doctors said the country is currently witnessing an “unvaccinated epidemic”.
Sundari Srikanth, Director, Internal Medicine, QRG Super Specialty Hospital, Faridabad, said there was currently a broad agreement within the global scientific community that the most effective way to defeat the pandemic was through mass vaccination of the population across the world .
“The choice not to get vaccinated puts the individual, his family and the community at risk of infection and disease spread at large. Vaccination not only prevents infection but a person gets a mild infection if infected. It also prevents community spread. In addition, it is important to emphasize on the continued practice of COVID-19-appropriate behavior for personal protection and prevention of community transmission,” Dr Srikanth said.
Doctors say people who haven’t been vaccinated are more likely to get moderate to severe COVID-19 and be hospitalized.
Ankita Baidya, Consultant for Infectious Diseases, said, “Natural immunity lasts for an average of three months, post vaccination, it stays longer in the body and thus can be protective for a longer period, slowing down the transmission of the virus Goes.” HCMCT Manipal Hospital.
Meanwhile, a health ministry release issued on Saturday said that the states/UTs have so far been paid Rs 116.54 crore (1,16,54,44,605) through the central government (free channel) and through direct state Multiple vaccine doses have been provided. purchase category.
It added that more than 15.69 crore (15,69,46,111) remaining and unused vaccine doses were still available with the states/UTs to be administered.
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