Government weighs sops to boost covid-19 inoculation campaign

India’s covid-19 vaccination campaign has been hampered by lack of supply, reluctance and misinformation. In general, it is believed, vaccines have received a cold response from the public even as the pandemic continues to rage.

To be sure, crippling supply constraints continue to cripple efforts to immunize every adult. Only about 3.5% of the adult population is fully vaccinated, compared to 11.07% in Brazil and 9.78% in Russia. The campaign, now in its third phase, has not even met its first phase goal of immunizing all health and frontline workers.

“Since health is a matter of state, we have asked states to increase immunization coverage. States are free to implement ideas to cover more people in the immunization program …. Incentive may be a good idea to address a potential reluctance to immunize and we can discuss this in on time, ”said Vinod Paul, member (health) at NITI Aayog and chair of the National Covid-19 Vaccine Delivery Expert Group (NEGVAC).

India’s rollout of a free vaccine for all adults begins Monday, even as states like Maharashtra and Delhi continue to complain of shortages. The government estimates that after the switch to free vaccines, with the Center purchasing 75% of all vaccines, the supply will be rationalized.

“When we have surplus vaccines, we can also think of certain interventions that include incentives for immunization on lines similar to family planning for sterilization, where people see certain benefits in accepting a public health intervention in the wider interest of the country, “said a senior union official. official of the ministry of health.

“Although there is a debate about cash incentives to improve public health outcomes, such interventions have helped. In family planning, we try to control the population, here we can try to control a highly infectious disease, “said the official.

Meanwhile, states are also making their own plans to motivate people with incentives. “Right now we have barely covered 10% of the population. After going over 40% or 50%, to reach last mile immunization coverage, we can think about giving incentives, ”said a senior government official in Uttar Pradesh.

There has been a demand in some states to offer indirect incentives to help people reach immunization centers. “Beyond prescribing a specific one, the biggest incentive is that the government of Assam should make it as easy, simple and as convenient as possible for everyone in the state to get the vaccine – maybe be dealing with practical difficulties like travel which should include all sections of society including isolated communities, tea garden workers, etc. ”said Pradyut Bordoloi, congressman of the Parliament of Assam .

With dose supply set to decline by July-August with around 10 million doses available per day, India should consider such incentives, public health experts say.

“It may be interesting to consider the option of a direct cash transfer program to beneficiaries of public social protection programs in the country. The transfer could be conditional and given either in part with each injection or immediately after the person has been fully vaccinated, ”said Ashwajit Singh, managing director of IPE Global, an international health development consultancy. Singh said it could be a time-limited, conditional sum transfer, similar to a successful program called Bolsa Familia (family allowance) in Brazil where the government transfers money to poor families if they agree. to send their children to school, to a health center and for vaccination.