New Delhi: Amid the new strain of coronavirus detected in the United Kingdom, the experts responsible for making COVID-19 vaccination decisions are considering making it available in pharmacies.
Senior government officials told Hindustan Times that if the plan gets the government nod, the shots may be available for private use for those who can afford to shell out money for them. However, the cost of the vaccine may be subsidized in private markets, the officials said.
Three vaccine candidates are right now being considered for crisis use approval, including those from AstraZeneca and Pfizer. Bharat Biotech has likewise applied for emergency approval. In any case, the immunization cycle will be voluntary.
News 18 sources inside the Union Health Ministry had disclosed that there won’t be any endeavor to inoculate individuals against COVID-19 on the off chance that they don’t wish to do as such.
“This is a democracy. Even if you are in a priority group and have been identified as a vulnerable person, you will not be forced to take a vaccine,” a source said on the condition of anonymity.
The government has additionally said that it won’t immunize the whole nation against COVID-19. This implies that priority groups will be vaccinated first with government support, while healthy adults would need to purchase the vaccine like any other clinical item.
Rajesh Bhushan, Union Health Secretary during a press briefing on Tuesday said, “The government never spoke about vaccinating the entire country. It is important to get factual information on these things.”
Professor Balram Bhargava, Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said, “The purpose is to break the chain of entire transmission. If we can vaccinate some and do that we will.”
Conversation or discussion is additionally in progress on whether those already infected and the individuals who have created antibodies would require immunizations.
Reacting to a question on the government techniques on whether there is any need to immunize the individuals who have been transporters of the SARS CoV-2, the ICMR said this includes two things. One, if patients of COVID-19 can have an antagonistic impact after inoculation. Second, there is a need to save vaccination. The two issues are under deliberation.
“The national expert group on vaccine administration is debating on whether people who have got the disease should be vaccinated. No decision has been taken on this yet,” said Bhushan.