Prof K Nageshwar: Should private players allowed in vaccination? (Video)

You can enroll as a voter for MLC elections now if you have not enrolled earlier. https://ceotserms1.telangana.gov.in/MLC/Form18.aspx The government must mobilize all the resources it has in the public sector to deliver the vaccine to the prioritised groups in the initial stages. These are well delineated on grounds of essentiality of services provided and vulnerability of persons due to age or pre-existing health conditions. Bypassing these priorities by providing early permissions and supplies to the private sector would compromise both the scientific basis of prioritisation and ethical principle of equity in public health. Later, as vaccine supplies increase and other groups in the population are to be covered, the private sector may be drawn upon to support the governmental programme but not in a free market mode. Immunisation in a pandemic is a public good in the language of economists and cannot be left vulnerable to the paying capacity of a person. By when would the vaccination be available for the general public? I cannot say at present, as it depends on the number and volume of approved vaccines available in the next few months and the speed of its delivery to the prioritised groups initially. The government is suggesting September this year as the possible time for rollout to the general population. I regard the situation as fluid and will wait to see what happens in the next three months. Does getting vaccinated mean that we need not follow the COVID appropriate behaviour? Not at all. One fact that must be clearly communicated to people is that the presently available injectable vaccines have been designed and tested to prevent symptomatic COVID-19 disease and not the initial viral infection per se. There is some risk, not quantified at present, that an immunised person can receive the virus into the respiratory tract and harbour it there for some time. During that time, there can be transmission to others. So, till the virus has greatly reduced its presence in the population or the vast majority have acquired natural or vaccine induced immunity, wearing of masks and other COVID appropriate behaviours must continue. That will also yield collateral benefits like reduced transmission of other respiratory microbes, such as influenza viruses and bacteria causing tuberculosis. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/immunisation-in-a-pandemic-is-a-public-good-says-public-health-specialist-srinath-reddy/article33494523.ece