For centralised vaccine procurement (The Economic Times)

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From May 1, the country’s entire adult population of approximately 900 million will be eligible for the Covid vaccine. This calls for, one, increasing vaccine supplies manifold, from the current level of 70 million doses a month, and, two, delivery of the vaccine in a manner calibrated to have maximum impact on the pandemic. Even with imports and authorisation and production of new vaccines, without conscious policy to increase production capacity for vaccines and their ingredients, India will be unable to either vaccinate its own people or meet its export commitments, which are not just a commercial opportunity but also a moral obligation, given India’s entrenched position as the world’s largest producer of vaccines. For rational allocation of vaccines, the Centre needs to take back the role of procuring and allocating vaccines among the states.

Rather than scramble to beat other states and private hospitals to the available supply of vaccines, states must focus on proper and efficient delivery, minimising wastage of vaccines and ensuring that priority target groups receive their jabs. Careful planning of vaccine allocation is critical. Therefore, the central government must resume this role, allocating to states based on transparent parameters such as the size of the vulnerable population and current need, based on pandemic levels and likely spread. Vaccine wastage must be penalised, however. The Centre should consider creating, if necessary, a priority order within the 18-44 years cohort. Together with state governments, it must step up efforts to increase vaccination rates among the different age cohorts, particularly the priority groups such as healthcare and frontline workers. It is worth considering if retail industry staff who interface with consumers should be deemed a priority category. Someone staffing a milk booth or handing out grocery interacts with a whole lot of people, even in a lockdown.

Centralised procurement of vaccines and priority-wise allocation to states would be the sensible way to proceed.

Courtesy - The Economic Times.

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