THE WAY FORWARD

India needs to do more than merely permiting private sector hospitals to inoculate from 1 March onwards. It needs a vaccination strategy for the urban areas and the rural areas. Within these two segments, India needs vaccination guidelines by age-groups of people.

There should be no loss of pride in seeking the contribution of the private sector to distribute vaccinations. The Government Health departments are specialists in managing health issues. They are not specialists in logistics or distribution. Distribution companies in the private sector are beter equipped to manage the dispersion of vaccines.

There are lessons to be learnt from the vaccinations in London, where people get a leter, telling them the date, time and place of each jab. The places of vaccination are alloted, to ensure proximity to the residence of the recipient. Pharmacies and medical colleges should vaccinate through the nights.

In the villages, local officials, village headmen and leaders should spearhead the vaccination drive through public health centres. Private doctors in villages and small towns, should also contribute.

The resources of the private companies can be harnessed for accelerating vaccinations in the villages. These companies have rural infrastructures of vans, promoters, warehouses, cold storages, which can be deployed.

COVID-19 has interrupted the life of every person. So, ordinary Indians are anxious to assist the government to fight the disease. The government should deploy this goodwill. Let the vaccination drive, become a people’s movement.

Rajendra Aneja Mumbai, India