India started the historic Covid-19 vaccination campaign in January 2021. Then more than 220 crore vaccine doses were administered. India has achieved a staggering 200 crore doses in 18 months at an unparalleled speed and scale. We also created a record of administering 2.51 crore doses in one day and more than one crore doses in other nine days!
What is even more remarkable is that the entire Covid-19 vaccination program was conducted using two vaccines manufactured in India. 97% of immunizations are provided free of charge through the public health system. ICMR The data analyzed showed that the effectiveness of the first and second dose of vaccination in preventing mortality from Covid-19 was 99.0% and 99.4%, respectively.
The study, published in September 2022 in the prestigious Lancet Infectious Diseases, estimates the first-year outcome of covid-19 vaccination worldwide. The paper shows that in 2021 alone, 34 lakh (27.5 to 48.8 lakh) deaths could be averted through immunization campaigns in India.
Now, a working paper released by Stanford University and the Institute of Competitiveness highlights the aforementioned mortality reduction figure and provides an estimate of the revenue generation potential of the immunization program.
18.3 billion U.S. The report says that the life-saving immunization campaign has had a positive financial impact by preventing a loss of USD (Rs. 1,29,000 crore). 15.42 billion US taking into account the cost of the immunization campaign. The paper states that the country has received a net profit of USD (Rs. 1,09,325 crores).
India-made Covid-19 vaccines cost three U.S. dollars per dose The government bought at less than a dollar. Globally popular mRNA The market price of vaccines (Efessor, Moderna) is about US$20 per dose. It was dollars. At that price, 200 million doses cost around US$40 billion. Dollars (Rs. 3,00,000 crores) would have created a huge financial burden for the country. However, there were not enough vaccine doses from any external sources in the global market in 2021 to meet India’s huge demand. If we didn’t have our own production, we would be in a lot of trouble. By developing and distributing cheap and effective, made-in-India vaccines, the country has come through the crisis with its head held high. Not only protecting our own people, but also sharing our products with more than 100 countries through the Vaccine Maitri initiative.
The role of India’s leading health workers, especially Asha workers, in the immunization campaign is a testament to their importance in the health care system; Especially at the regional level. The report points out that Asha workers acted as a point of contact between the authorities and the people. They are eligible for the World Health Organization Global Health Leaders Award at the 2022 World Health Assembly.
The paper elaborates on the restrictions, relief package and vaccine implementation in India. The study observes that these three measures are critical for saving lives by preventing the spread of Covid-19, ensuring uninterrupted economic activity, sustaining livelihoods and developing immunity against Everus. Technology-based measures such as Kovin, Arogya Sethu and e-Sanjeevani have further strengthened India’s pandemic management and response.
The Stanford report suggests that strong grassroots measures such as contact tracing, mass testing, household quarantine, distribution of essential medical equipment, upgrading of healthcare infrastructure, and continuous coordination between various stakeholders at the central, state and district levels have helped curb the spread of the virus. It also enabled the creation of a large hospital infrastructure for care. This shows that a bottom-up approach is crucial in controlling the virus, as opposed to a top-down approach.
The Economic Survey (2020-21) stated that due to the lockdown in 2020, India was able to save more than one lakh lives. Because of this measure, it took about 175 days for the country to reach its peak from the first hundred cases. Meanwhile many countries (including Russia, Canada, France, Italy, Germany, etc.) reached their first peak within 50 days.
India’s approach of framing a comprehensive relief package, as opposed to a stimulus package, played a major role in easing the economic pressure on the people and leading to a vibrant post-pandemic path.
68,820 crore (US$9.7 billion) PM covering the elderly, women, farmers and the working class. The Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) through its comprehensive package has ensured that the livelihoods of the people are affected to a minimum by Covid. As an economic stimulus, PMGKY 7.57 billion U.S. According to the Stanford report, there was an economic impact of USD (Rs. 53,679 crore). P.M. Under Garib Kalyan Rosgar Abhiyan, 40 lakh beneficiaries have been given employment. This resulted in a total of 4.81 billion US dollars. Dollars (Rs. 34,095 crore) had an economic impact. P.M. Through the Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), free food grains have been distributed to around 80 crore people, ensuring that no one goes hungry. According to a Stanford study, it is 26.24 billion US dollars. Dollars (Rs. 1,86,026 crores) had a huge financial impact.
The pandemic has had devastating effects on the global economy. Organizations such as the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund estimate losses to the global economy in the trillions of dollars. Such a setback could be disastrous for India, which is moving towards a higher level of development and economic security. However, India continues to be the fastest growing major economy even after the pandemic.
In fact, India has emerged stronger in the post-pandemic world, led by an administration that has succeeded in protecting lives and livelihoods and preserving the energy and dynamism of the country’s economy.
(The author is a member of NITI Aayog (Health). Views are personal.)