#SaveForTheWave | India may end up wasting millions of #COVID19Vaccine doses if there is no separate queue for second shots

https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/covid-19-vaccine-india-needs-a-separate-queue-for-second-dose/articleshow/82304003.cms

By @pabsgill

There will be at least 40 million people eligible for the second dose of #COVID19Vaccine on May 1. Many may be too close to the 12-week deadline after which the first dose they already got will be useless — and they would have to begin the cycle all over again.

#SaveForTheWave

In order to ensure that people who already have the first dose do not get pushed behind in the queue, the Indian government should allow for separate counters and dedicated slots for people who are eligible for the second dose.

#SaveForTheWave #COVID19Vaccine

On May 1, as the country opens up its #vaccination drive to everyone above the age of 18 years, 600 million additional people will become eligible.

This could lead to another crisis as another 40 million will already be waiting in the queue for the second dose.

#SaveForTheWave

And that number will rise with every passing day, as the 65 million people above the age of 45 — who got the first dose after April 1 — complete their stipulated time of four to eight weeks and join the queue for the second dose.

#SaveForTheWave #COVID19Vaccine

"If they try and serve everyone from the same place, it’s just going to create chaos and may even fuel a much larger spread,” Dr Marcus Ranney, founder and chief executive of Human Edge told Business Insider.

That means the first doses given to those individuals will be wasted.

One way to stall the chaos is to prioritise those who need the second shot. Another filter that can be used is to ask those who may have been infected by #COVID19 in recent weeks to stay out of the queue.

#SaveForTheWave #COVID19Vaccine

All in all, the government needs to come out with clear guidelines to ensure no one is left behind, and not one precious dose goes to waste — especially since India has already wasted 4.6 million doses till April 11.

#SaveForTheWave #COVID19Vaccine

Even if the government were to take no new bookings, and only focus on those needing second shots at all centres, at the current rate of vaccination, it would take 48 days to just go through that lot.

#SaveForTheWave #COVID19Vaccine

Having to repeat the first doses for even one person is a waste of precious resources. Imagining scenarios & preparing for the possibilities is the only way to keep things from spiraling out of control.

#SaveForTheWave #COVID19Vaccine