04/06/2020 - Health

KEY POINTS

·         While the pandemic has highlighted their importance, vaccines have always been the frontrunners in saving lives: With their help, we are able to prevent the death of two to three million children globally every year.

·         It is because of vaccines that we managed to eradicate highly contagious diseases such as smallpox, which used to kill millions only a few decades ago. In India, vaccines have helped us defeat polio — the country was certified polio-free by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2014.

·         In 2015, the country also eliminated maternal and neonatal tetanus. While we might not be certain about the timeline for the elimination of COVID-19, an effective vaccine is the world’s best shot at reducing the transmission of this highly contagious disease.

·         India is one of the largest producers and exporters of vaccines in the world. In fact, many vaccines in the national immunisation programme are produced in India and manufactured by Indian companies.

·         This has been made possible through regular investments in ramping up our manufacturing capacity through programmes like Make In India. However, innovation and research in vaccines have not been adequately prioritised.

·         The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has made great strides in that direction — it has developed effective vaccines against Japanese encephalitis (JENVAC), shigella (technology transfer to Hillman Labs) and the Kyasanur forest disease. ICMR has also provided research funding for initial and validation studies for the rotavirus and polio vaccines.

·         ICMR is collaborating with Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) to develop a fully indigenous vaccine for COVID-19 using the virus strain isolated at the National Institute of Virology in Pune.

·         But to make India a global leader, there should be concerted efforts to activate the triple-helix model of innovation that involves intensifying collaboration between research institutes, industry, and the government. We need to approach research and innovation from the bottom-up — this means increasing research in biotechnology, medical innovation, and public health at the university level.

·         The government and academia must come together to prioritise the development of cost-effective tools of public health importance like vaccines. The country needs a comprehensive approach to mobilise resources for this purpose.

·         It is time the government, technical experts and private companies ensure that these researchers have access to the resources and tools that can make India truly atmanirbhar.

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