Saga of Covid 19 Vaccination

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Saga of Covid 19 Vaccination

Journal Title: Journal of Quality in Health Care & Economics (JQHE) - Year 2021, Vol 4, Issue 3

Abstract

Covid 19 Pandemic hit 219 countries and territories of the world since the first human cases of COVID-19 were identified in Wuhan, the capital of the province of Hubei in China in December 2019. Initial Pandemic management strategy included Testing and confirming by laboratory tests namely RTPCR / Rapid antigen tests, treating with antivirals and corticosteroids and complications as they manifested, tracking contacts, promoting use of masks, handwashing, and respiratory etiquette. The world scientist delivered several excellent options within a year a significant achievement in the Public Health History. Now every country is tripping over itself in trying to get vaccinated their population as an additional strategy to achieve immunity and prevent grievous effects both on health and economy of the country. But there are also attempts to cut the line, and cutthroat competition with an adverse impact on low and middle socio-economic countries. Vaccinating a huge adult population is a complex process for want of experience even in advanced countries, especially for newly Introduced vaccines like COVID-19 vaccination and reaching the required coverage of at least 70% of the population for developing herd immunity will take 1-2 years. It is desirable for countries to share lessons learned from rollout to benefit from each other’s experiences. Initial experimentations with varieties of vaccine available, vaccine logistics, different strategies to scale up the expansion starting from high-risk population, aftereffects following Immunization (AEFI) and their management as the vaccines are released for emergency use. This should be taken as an opportunity for strengthening broader immunization and health systems to resolve existing weaknesses and to meet future needs for robust essential health services. Appropriate communication on the benefit-risk profile of COVID-19 vaccines remains crucial to maintain confidence in immunization programmes and to avoid vaccine hesitancy. Vaccine hesitancy takes different forms for different people. For some, there is blanket scepticism and for others, it is a more specific distrust of Big Pharma. There will be some others who are naturally cautious of anything new and sudden. They need a lot of re-assurance before being able to accept the vaccine. Social media is giving wrong information about the vaccine and there are many avid followers of the same. Immunization is a global public good, with a significant segment of non- enthusiastic people. Therefore, every country must ensure universal and equitable access to safe, efficacious, and affordable vaccines, optimal use of vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics. While we accelerate the efforts of vaccinations, it is vital that even after vaccination with both doses everyone must wear masks, practice social distancing, and wash their hands when around those who have not been vaccinated This article reviews issues related Covid 19 Vaccines, Vaccination, AEFI, acceptance, Hesitancy, and reason for the same worldwide with special reference in the Indian context.Materials & Methods: This manuscript has used Global vaccination data, reports on adverse reactions as they occurred in different media, Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and State government reports, media coverage on challenges of online registration, handling of vaccination in government and private facilities, AEFI reports and rumour on social media. Background: Covid 19 Pandemic hit the entire world since the first human cases of COVID-19 were identified in Wuhan, the capital of the province of Hubei in China in December 2019. On January 30,2020, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak as a Global Public Health Emergency. On January 31, the first 2 novel coronavirus cases in the UK, the first 2 cases in Russia, and the first case in Sweden and in Spain were reported. Canada reported its 4th case. On the same day, the United States declared Coronavirus a Public Health Emergency. The Pandemic of SARS COV 2 popularly known as ‘Corona Virus19’ has affected 219 countries and territories around the world as of today. The COVID-19 pandemic is the biggest challenge to the global community since the 1940s. Around 134,641,215 cases and 2,917,995 deaths have been reported as on the World Health Day (7th April) of 2021. Czechia tops the list of countries worst affected with 146,691 cases per million population, followed by USA 95,392, Israel 90,854, whereas India has just 9393 cases per million population. Czechia has record Covid 19 death rates of 2,575 /million population followed by Belgium 2,008, Italy 1,869, UK-1,863, USA 1,726, and India 121 per million population. In terms of the population tested for Covid 19 infections UK stands out with 1,871,439 /million, USA 229,231, France 1,001,532, Czechia 1,206,433, and India just 177,643test per million population. China where the pandemic originated has reported 160,000,000 tests with a rate of 111,163 test/million population, a total of 90,252 cases with a rate of 63 cases and 3 deaths per million populations so far. The soaring numbers with the rolling 7 days average of 337 cases per million population in Italy followed by 203 in Germany,198 in USA,141 in Canada, 60 in UK and 47 in India as of first week of April 2021, that we are seeing today will continue to rise unless there is a serious attempt to get everyone vaccinated. Initial Pandemic strategy included Testing, confirmation by RTPCR tests, and treatment of confirmed cases with antivirals and corticosteroids and complications as they arose in well-equipped hospitals, Isolation of cases either in homes or institutions, screening of international travellers, tracking and testing primary and secondary contacts, quarantining suspected persons. Promoting using masks, handwashing, and Respiratory etiquette were the main stay of controlling the spread of the pandemic. After a full year’s efforts multiple effective vaccines have been developed. But in a hurry to benefit their own population each country of the world is tripping over itself to get vaccinated. There are attempts to cut line, frustration breeding among poorer countries at finding oneself low down on the list of who is eligible to get the vaccine on sheer economic consideration not the humanitarian. There is a significant segment that does not seem enthusiastic. Vaccine hesitancy takes different forms for different people. For some, there is blanket scepticism about any mainstream narrative and a nagging suspicion that some conspiracy is afoot. For others, it is a more specific distrust on Big Pharma’s. There are those that are naturally cautious of anything new and sudden and need a lot of re-assurance before being able to accept the vaccine. Some have the wrong information about the vaccine, being avid followers of the kind of knowledge most prevalent on WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook etc. Still there are others who are passive and indifferent and believe that neither the Covid 19 infection nor the vaccine has nothing to do with them.

Authors and Affiliations

Suresh K*

Keywords

EP ID EP751120
DOI 10.23880/jqhe-16000223
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