India is ready to begin the world's largest vaccination drive from January 16th. As per reports, priority will be given to the healthcare workers and the frontline workers, estimated to be around 3 crores, followed by those above 50 years and the under-50 population groups with co-morbidities numbering around 27 crores.

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Two vaccines have been approved for restricted emergency use by Indian drug regulator - Serum Institute's Covshield and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin. Let's take a look at how the vaccine will reach you.

Coronavirus vaccine's journey to you


Administering a vaccine across the country will be a mammoth task.

India has an effective polio vaccine delivery network but no experience with mass adult immunization. Other major challenges include storing and transporting the doses in optimum temperatures and making sure they are administered properly even in remote areas. A look at how a vaccine might reach your arm:

Maker's Market




  • Around 3 billion doses are made in India.

  • Serum Institute of India (SII) is one of the world’s largest vaccine maker.

  • 4.3 bn doses are made in the world; India accounts for about 70% of world’s production.

  • Almost 65% of vaccines made in India are exported.


Batch Processing



  • The output of vaccine markers in India can be divided into two batches — for exports and for domestic use

  • EXPORTS: Main customers are Unicef and Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization. The alliance, a grouping of 100 countries, has secured 1 bn doses of Covid vaccines for poor countries. Vaccines are exported via air or ocean freight. IATA says the equivalent of 8,000 Boeing 747s will be needed to transport coronavirus vaccine around the world


Domestic Use



  • The process starts when the Centre raises a purchase order depending on demand. The doses are dispatched through a logistical chain to urban, rural, tribal and inaccessible areas. Manufacturers send vaccines via air, road, or rail to Government Medical Store Depots (GMSDs) in. GMSDs, or central warehouses, forward the shipments to 40 state vaccine stores. State vaccine stores send vaccines to around 120 divisional vaccine stores. Divisional stores send to 20,000 community or public health centres, and private hospitals.

  • Last-mile delivery: Beneficiaries get the vaccines in hospitals or medical centres.


Packaging



  • The manufacturer puts a 2D barcode (looks like a QR code) on each vaccine vial.

  • Dashboard for Tracking Shipments

    • The government uses Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network or eVIN to

    • Identify primary beneficiaries

    • Collect real-time inventory data

    • Track distribution networks


    What is eVIN?


    • Indigenously developed platform launched in 201

    • Digitises stocks and monitors temperature in a cold chain using an app

    • Supports the Centre’s Universal Immunization Programme'




Cost Matrix





    • 30% Wastage of vaccines in use due to poor temperature control or expiry.

    • Rs 250-3,000 Likely differential pricing for user groups

    • Rs 40,000-45,000 cr: Estimate of Covid vaccine shipment market across India





Rollout Scenario




  • Phase one of vaccination is likely to run from 16th January-July 2021. Experts say 700-750 mn would have to be vaccinated, and that would require around 1.5 bn doses if each needs 2 shots. Each sealed box could contain 10-20 vials.

  • Who gets it first: Experts point out that children below 14 years and pregnant women would be excluded as no tests have been done on them. The National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 has recommended that priority be given to

  • 10 million healthcare workers

  • 20 million frontline personnel — armed forces, municipal workers, emergency relief workers, etc

  • 270 million people above the age of 50 and those below 50 with co-morbidities


(It is important to note that this roadmap is tentative)