COVID-19 management: The vaccination drive in India

• Published in: Health policy and technology 2022-06, Vol.11 (2), p.100636-100636, Article 100636
• Main Authors: Purohit, Neha, Chugh, Yashika, Bahuguna, Pankaj, Prinja, Shankar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: COVID-19; Healthcare policies; India; Pandemic; Vaccination
• ISSN: 2211-8837; 2211-8845
• DOI: 10.1016/j.hlpt.2022.100636

•The five-point strategy adopted by Indian government against COVID-19 has been “COVID appropriate behaviour, test, track, treat and vaccinate”.•The central procurement and distribution of vaccines has been an optimal and efficient way to ensure availability of vaccines.•The use of technology in form of COVID-19 vaccine intelligence network (Co-WIN 1.0 and 2.0) assisted in successful planning, implementation and continuous monitoring of vaccine procurement, distribution, and utilization. It also aided the citizens in registrations, location of vaccination centres and generation of certifications.•The strengths of the vaccination drive were meticulous monitoring of the campaign, amendments in policies based on available evidence and consistent assistance to vaccine manufacturers to improve domestic production of vaccines.•The identified challenges to the vaccination drive were related to vaccine availability and hesitancy. The rural-urban and gender-based inequities in the country reflected throughout the vaccination drive and require attention. We undertook the study to present a comprehensive overview of COVID-19 related measures, largely centred around the development of vaccination related policies, their implementation and challenges faced in the vaccination drive in India. A targeted review of literature was conducted to collect relevant data from official government documents, national as well as international databases, media reports and published research articles. The data were summarized to assess Indian government's vaccination campaign and its outcomes as a response to COVID-19 pandemic. The five-point strategy adopted by government of India was “COVID appropriate behaviour, test, track, treat and vaccinate”. With respect to vaccination, there have been periodic shifts in the policies in terms of eligible beneficiaries, procurement, and distribution plans, import and export strategy, involvement of private sector and use of technology. The government utilized technology for facilitating vaccination for the beneficiaries and monitoring vaccination coverage. The monopoly of central government in vaccine procurement resulted in bulk orders at low price rates. However, the implementation of liberalized policy led to differential pricing and delayed achievement of set targets. The population preference for free vaccines and low profit margins for the private sector due to price caps resulted in a limited contribution of the dominant private health s