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Price And Politics On Top COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution In India

COVID-19 Vaccine

Is the new political battle in India to be associated with the distribution of the covid-19 vaccine? The Coronavirus vaccine has not launched yet but the questions have already surfaced that if the covid-19 vaccine comes in 2021, how would it be distributed, and what would be the cost per dose? 

On the other hand, the tally of covid-19 patients in India is reaching new milestones every second day. India has seen 216,919 total covid-19 confirmed cases, 6,075 deaths, 104, 107 recovered cases, confirmed Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare in the latest update on Wednesday evening. Meanwhile, the total covid-19 cases in India reached 9,266,705, 135,261 deaths, and a record 8,679,138 successfully cured.

With rapidly-increasing covid-19 cases, India has become the world’s second-worst affected country. So far, a huge number of India’s covid-19 cases is coming from five worst-affected states: Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh followed by Delhi, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh.

Referring to the situation, India is representing clinical trials for all major covid-19 vaccine candidates. The Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest prestigious vaccine producer, is conducting testing for the covid-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University. This vaccine called ‘COVIDSHIELD’ is supposed to be rolled out in December. Along with this, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories announced that it will distribute 100 million (nearly 10 crores) doses of Russia’s Sputnik V covid-19 vaccine in India as soon as it passes the final stage of human trial.

India’s Bharat Biotech International Ltd is conducting a second-phase human trial and Zydus Cadila is waiting for the approvals to conduct the third & final stage human trial of the covid-19 vaccine.

India asked the vaccine developers for the estimates of the cost at which their respective vaccines are to be available in India. “Pricing is undoubtedly one of the most complex issues because most of the vaccine candidates are in the final stage of the trial.” There’s no strong information about the price of the covid-19 vaccine in India, but we have asked about the prices of potential covid vaccines from individual manufacturers, said V K Paul, member of NITI Aayog.

There are around 182 vaccine candidates in preclinical or clinical trials around the world. 36 and nine of these are in clinical trials and the final stage of human trials respectively. In India, there are at least 8 vaccine candidates, out of which 2 have conducted phase II trials. But nothing is clear about the vaccines to be available at the earliest and the price at which they will be offered. Though it is clear that the Indian government is supporting these vaccine development programs. India’s Health Minister announced a US$120 Million grant for covid-19 research at a BRICS Science Technology and innovation meeting on 13th November.

“Out of five vaccines being developed and tested in India, ‘COVIDSHIELD’ is supposed to be ready by the end of 2020 or even earlier,” confirmed Gagandeep Kang, a clinical scientist, and professor in the department of Gastrointestinal. On the other hand, The Serum Institute priced the Covid-19 vaccine at $3 per dose for India and lower-middle-income nations.

COVAX, the pillar of the vaccines and the ACT-Accelerator, established by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations(CEPI), Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (GAVI) and World Health Organization (WHO) are boosting the search and research for an effective yet affordable covid-19 vaccine for all countries. At the same time, this community is encouraging developers to build unparalleled manufacturing capabilities and purchase supplies in advance to ensure that around 2 Billion doses are being distributed by the end of 2021.

“The government seems to buy the vaccine supply and country-wide distribution through COVAX.” It is desired to purchase nearly two billion doses of covid-19 vaccine and provide it to all GAVI associated countries. COVAX is reported to distribute the vaccine to about 92 countries, including India.

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