India Announces New Vaccination Rollout Phase as COVID-19 Surges

India is experiencing a dangerous second wave of COVID-19, after seeming to have it under control (Flickr). 

India will begin Phase Three of its vaccine rollout on May 1 amid a devastating second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Announced by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week, this phase will allow everyone older than 18 to receive their shot.

India now has the worst COVID-19 outbreak of any country to date, with a world record 352,991 daily cases reported on April 26. Many predict that the situation will continue to deteriorate. Hospitals across India have struggled against the massive surge and have experienced shortages of oxygen, beds, and supplies. Workers have had to construct makeshift cremation sites to deal with the sharp rise in deaths. 

The recent and unexpected surge came after the government loosened social distancing guidelines despite the more contagious B.1.167 variant having emerged in the country. The Indian government finally responded last week with a series of emergency measures to curb the virus’s spread, including initiating Phase Three of the vaccine’s rollout. This new phase permits state governments to purchase vaccines directly from manufacturers, which the central government had previously prohibited. 

Although intended to speed things up, this phase has brought logistical confusion to many states. Goa, for instance, has yet to receive a shipment of doses ahead of the May 1 Phase Three commencement. 

As a result of this confusion, states like Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand have indicated that they will not be able to start Phase Three on time.  Other states, including Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, will in fact start Phase Three, though they require more doses before May 1 to meet predicted demand. 

Although India has the world’s largest vaccine-producing capacity, this second wave of infections has hampered its ability to keep pace. States have warned their citizens to prepare for vaccine shortages. 

Currently, India administers the Astra-Zenica and Sinovac inoculations, and it recently approved Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine. To increase their stockpile prior to May 1, India has purchased a total of around 205.5 million doses. Nonetheless, this would only cover 8 percent of India’s population.  

Foreign aid has poured into India, but fears remain that even this assistance will not meet the astronomical demand that the second wave of infections has engendered. Notably, the United States has lifted its embargo on vaccine materials to help India. President Joe Biden has also promised a portion of the U.S.’s surplus Astra-Zeneca courses to India. Other countries including the United Kingdom, Thailand, Germany, and Canada have sent oxygen and other medical supplies.