Mind the date: beginning of our 220 cr campaign

Index Home

It was 16th January of 2021, and a historic day as it was the launch of India’s Covid-19 vaccination drive. Just a year ago, in January 2020, we were sucked in a global pandemic. Over next ten months, after lockdowns, first wave of Covid, more than a crore documented cases and about a lakh deaths, there was some beacon of hope. By November 2020, we had first news that first Covid vaccine was just around the corner.

Being a physician, for us the news about this vaccine brought a mixed set of emotions. The development, subsequent trials, and approvals for use, all had come at an incredible pace. Was it really safe ? What if trials were wrong ? What if there are hidden long term concerns ?

Regardless of vaccine scepticism, in December 2020, developed world rolled out its vaccines-Pfizer and Moderna. India had already announced that its vaccine was just around the corner. Hospitals in India were already making a list of their health-care workers. Within a month of its global launch, India was all set to get its vaccine too.

1st-2nd January 2021, Two vaccine approved in India

In the first two days of 2021, Indian drug regulatory authority or DCGI announced approvals for two vaccines – Covisheild and Covaxin. Covisheild was manufactured by Serum Institute of India (SII) and was developed by Oxford-Astra Zeneca collaboration. On the other hand Covaxin was a more indigenous effort by DHR-Bharat Biotech. Thus began another round of speculation, if one was more better than the other. If this speculation was not enough, many had opinions if either of these two actually match the western vaccines. Future, that had not yet unfolded itself, only knew that all were more or less the same.

The First Phase

We had a launch date of 16th January. The date was announced a few days after the first vaccines in India were approved. Health-care workers were first to be jabbed and the lists were finalised. Health care workers include all who work in a hospital. So the list had doctors, nurses, paramedics, technicians, attenders, sanitation staff and security. While many felt privileged, some others were concerned. Why us ? Was it a reward for all the hard work in the last year, or were we yet another frontline to test vaccine safety.

As preparations were on for the big-day, vaccination centres were set-up almost overnight. There were mock drills of all sorts. Tensions were palpable, as the first lot of vaccines was to be shipped only a day earlier. Large hospitals were the first ones to start the campaign. We also had large screens erected, to watch the national launch. There was also a new portal – Cowin to record all vaccine transactions. First phase had begun, and target was to vaccinate 30 million health-care workers over next month and a half.

So the grand date was here

We all gathered at a special vaccination centre on 16th January. There was a sigh of relief, as we had our vaccine supply the previous evening. A little after 10, was the time for the first jab. The vaccinators were in the hazmat overalls, and recipients were in their N95 masks. There was a mandatory wait in the post-vaccination room. At our site, we had Covishield. Across India, a total of 165,714 health-workers got their jabs on the first day. I was one of them, and can proudly present my vaccination certificate with the inaugural date of vaccination.

After an initial chaos at vaccination centres, the processes got stabilised. Everyone was watching the newly jabbed health-care workers. They did not seem to drop dead, which meant that things were alright. However, by 1st of March, of planned 30 million, only 14 million healthcare workers had their vaccine. As planned the phase was also opened for those above 60.

The aftermath

The subsequent vaccination drive phases were staggered by age. Those above 45 were eligible after 1st April, and those above 18, after 1st May 2021. While on one hand we had a fast pace vaccination drive, but on the other we had a much large second wave. Peak was on 30th April 2021, when more than 4,00,000 documented new cases and 3500 deaths were reported on a single day. Probably devastating second wave was a push for many more to get their dosages.

As the second wave came to a decline, vaccination drive picked up its momentum. We reached 100 crore (or 1 billion) vaccinations on 31st October 2021. In January of 2022, Indian government announced that the vaccination window is now oped for those above 15 years of age. This is when I accompanied my daughter for her first jab. Things were much more relaxed, and most apprehensions about the vaccine were over. Vaccine was definitely more safe than the virus.

16th January 2022 was first anniversary of our vaccination roll out. A postal cover on this date depicts BBV 152 (Bharat Biotech vaccine 152), our indigenous product. By March 2023 India has achieved 2.2 billion (or 220 crore) immunisations, and an overall 95% of all eligibles getting at least one dose. Thus, Covid vaccination in India became such single largest campaign across the world.