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Events & Issues
New Delhi, 15 April 2021
Vaccine Politics
SHORTAGE, INEPTITUDE
EFFECT
By Dr S.Saraswathi
(Former Director,
ICSSR, New Delhi)
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, it is reported,
has written to Prime Minister Modi alleging “vaccine starvation” in the nation and
demanding immediate ban on export of vaccines.
To this, the Union Law Minister Ravishankar Prasad hit back claiming
that shortage was not of vaccines, but of commitment to healthcare in
Congress-governed States.
Vaccination programme is the latest addition
to the list of Union-State conflict spots and inter-party political warfare on
matters that should be beyond party politics. It may be termed “vaccine
politics” or “Politicisation of COVID-19 Vaccine”.
“Was the export of vaccines also an
oversight, like many other decisions of this government, or an effort to garner
publicity at the cost of our own citizens?” asked Rahul in clear political
manner giving a piece of “advice” that our vaccination programme should move
towards guaranteeing maximum vaccination.
He said the Centre had sidelined
the States in planning and procurement
process and urged Modi to give
them greater say in the programme. He asked for increased allocation of resources
to vaccine manufacture and to speed up approval of more vaccines. Ravishankar
Prasad received the comments as part of lobbying for some pharmaceutical
companies. The exchange is but a display of lack of trust and cooperation
between political parties even on a most serious matter like fighting a deadly pandemic.
Complaints of vaccine shortage due to short
supply from the Union government are made by mainly non-BJP ruled States –
Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab.
Maharashtra is practically shouting that it has hardly three days requirement
thus pushing a panic button.
Maharashtra, till 9th of April had received 1.6 crore doses of vaccine; 92 to 95 lakh doses have been administered.
The State has now got little stock and some vaccine centres have to be closed.
Union government says that 17.43 lakh doses will be sent to Maharashtra after
15th April. While insufficient supply will hinder vaccination drive
in the State under current schedule, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray wants to
cover all below 25 years. Whether it is for covering up one’s inability and
lack of efforts by the Government of Maharashtra, or genuine shortage of vaccine
to meet the requirement of all States according to a distribution policy, the reality
is the emergence of vaccine politics in
India in various forms.
The Union Government has informed the country
that 43 million vaccine doses are in stock when shortage alarm is raised. Union
Health Minister Harsh Vardhan accused Maharashtra Government of diverting
people’s attention from its dismal management of the pandemic. Vaccine supplies are being monitored on a
real-time basis and State governments are being apprised regularly about it and
allegations are utterly baseless, as per his communication to Maharashtra
Government.States falling behind in comparison with other States have various
reasons for their slow action. But, politics intervenes to find an easy way of
putting the blame on short supply from the Centre. Need, demand, supply, utilisation,
and results are being monitored and particular States should not normally have
reason to nurse any grievance provided they follow a sound plan of vaccine administration.
Chhattisgarh was pointed out for “petty
politicking” whereas the State relied on rapid antigen tests and initial
refusal to use Covaxin thus earning the “dubious distinction of being the only
government in the world to incite vaccine hesitancy”. At that time, Maharashtra
had hardly vaccinated 25% of senior citizens, Delhi 30% and Punjab only 13% --
clearly showing the lack of will. Cries of vaccine shortage is accompanied with
demand for vaccination of all adults!
By 5 April, India had administered 6,310
doses per one lakh population – relatively lower than comparable economies and
the world average was 8,900 doses. Israel, Chile, UK, USA, Brazil, and China
have administered above world average doses.
Supply of vaccine from the Centre to a State
in India depends on 3-day average utilisation of the vaccine. It means that
failure to utilise the supply will lead to reduced supply and better utilisation
to improved supply. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Gujarat, and Madhya
Pradesh have better record of
vaccination and as a result, higher supply.
Vaccine politics does exist in several
nations in different forms. In the US, States were asked to be prepared to
immediately vaccinate identified critical populations as soon as vaccines would
arrive after approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Guidelines
were furnished to the States by US
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccine distribution and opening
vaccine sites to ensure timely action.
Here the vaccine politics divided the
Republicans and Democrats. Present US government confronts vaccine hesitancy
sown by previous Republican President Donald Trump which is indeed a big
challenge. Vaccine divide goes along the party divide to some extent. Expert
opinion is for vaccinating over 80% of the population before next winter so as to
halt the return of the virus with renewed vigor. It is hard to achieve without
Republican support.
Vaccine politics cannot be understood without
reference to Germany, where vaccine skepticism was born and developed. It has
persisted from the days of mandatory small-pox inoculation introduced 150 years
ago till voluntary Corona jab today. Immunisation concept has always played
politics in Germany. Several conspiracy theories circulate to oppose
vaccination and people are mobilised against it. Arguments advanced against
small-pox vaccination in the 19th century are still repeated.
Vaccination became mandatory against small-pox by the Imperial Vaccination Law
of 1874. A movement by name Lebensreform meaning “Lifereform” came
up and grew fast to foster natural remedies to strengthen the body by sun shine,
special diets, etc. Vaccine opposition
groups were formed in 1870s. Anti-Semetic conspiracy theories played a role in early anti- vaccine movement.
The use of AstraZeneca against COVID-19 in Europe has also faced politics after complaints of blood clots appearing in some of those vaccinated. Italy, France,
and Spain joined the group opposing this
vaccine. It is suspected by some that politics and not science may be behind
suspension of AstraZeneca’s Covid
Vaccine. Possible political interference is suspected in the procedure for
acceptance of Sputnik V. Pharmaceutical industry is likely to come under extraordinary
political and commercial pressures and in the matter of a vaccine for a fast
spreading pandemic that is running third wave in some countries has an
international dimension also.
Call it Vaccine Diplomacy or Vaccine Maitri –
there is a humanitarian angle to supply
of vaccines within and outside the countrywhich cannot be totally ignored. Protectionist
policy of the US in vaccine export with the strong policy of “America first” is
one way of earning popularity within the nation. India’s readiness to help
needy nations is another form of Vaccine Politics that has a humanitarian side
and cannot be objected to. India is proud to informthe UN that it had supplied
more vaccines globally than for vaccinating its
own people. This condition is also resented by some politicians whose
contribution to remove vaccine hesitancy and wastage is not much. Vaccination,
in essence, is a matter to be handled by medical personnel and health administrators. Politics has no role.---INFA
(Copyright, India
News & Feature Alliance)
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