Should India Vaccinate Those With Comorbidities Than Opening It Up For Everyone Above 45?
India is the second-worst COVID-19 affected country in the world after the US and is currently in the grip of a second wave, of the outbreak, which appears to be spreading at a faster phase.
This is despite the fact that India has one of the fastest vaccine rollouts around the world.
But thanks to its population of 1.3 billion, the more than five crore 55 lakh four thousand doses of Covid-19 vaccine? that have been administered to the beneficiaries in the country so far is just the tip of the iceberg.
Large scale rollout still far away
Even though there are two domestically manufactured vaccines available in the country, Covishield, manufactured by Serum Institute of India and Covaxin, from Bharat Biotech, a large-scale rollout is still far away.
In January, when India began administering the vaccines it was only for health care workers and in the second phase which began this month those above the age of 60 and those above the age of 45 and having comorbidities like high blood pressure and diabetes were made eligible to get the vaccines.
Post April 1, those above 45 can get vaccinated
From April, those above the age of 45 will be able to receive the vaccine, even if they don't have any comorbidities.
This has left many, especially those with comorbidities, but are below the age of 45 wondering.
India is often described as the diabetics capital of the world and Indians between the age group of 18 and 35 years are most vulnerable to illness.
A 2018 study had found that one in five young adults in India has high blood pressure.
Eye opening studies
Blood pressure was recorded in around 180,000 Indian adults. Of those, 89,210 were 18¨C39 years old and are the focus of the current study. The average age was 28 years and two-thirds were men. Tinu Cherian Abraham, a Bengaluru-based communication professional and social media influencer who is both diabetic and has high blood pressure, but falls under the age of 45 feels that people like him should be prioritized.
"If Government is allowing everyone above 45 years to be vaccinated from next month, please allow above 35 with comorbidities along with. I am diabetic, have high BP (both under medication since long) and a family history of heart issues. And not yet 45. Vaccination need to faster," he wrote on Twitter.
Others too have expressed similar opinions.
India, like other countries, is rolling out COVID-19 vaccines in a phased manner, due to the demand and supply gap, which is likely to remain the same for a long time.
