Vaccine War: India Vs West| World's first Nasal Vaccine for Covid-19 iNCOVACC

Summary

The video script reflects on India's resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing its self-reliance in producing vaccines like Covishield and Covaxin. Despite skepticism from the Western media, India emerged as a leader in global vaccine diplomacy, providing vaccines to other nations through its Vaccine Maitri initiative. The video contrasts India’s affordable vaccine distribution with the profit-driven practices of Western pharmaceutical giants like Pfizer. It highlights India’s historic vaccine achievements, including the launch of the world’s first intranasal COVID-19 vaccine, showcasing India’s capability as a global healthcare leader.

Takeaways

• 💉 India's resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic was highlighted by its ability to produce vaccines just in time, saving its people without waiting for foreign help.
• 🌍 By 2023, India became a global leader in vaccine diplomacy, having administered over 220 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
• 🇮🇳 India's main vaccines during the pandemic were Covishield (AstraZeneca) and Covaxin (Bharat Biotech), with these vaccines helping to prevent a resurgence of the virus despite new variants like BF.0.7.
• 📦 India overcame logistical challenges to deliver vaccines to even remote areas, showcasing a well-coordinated effort across its vast population and terrain.
• 🌐 Through the Vaccine Maitri initiative, India supplied vaccines to developing nations, positioning itself as a world leader in humanitarian aid and vaccine manufacturing.
• 🏭 Indian pharmaceutical companies produce more than 50% of the global demand for vaccines, with a manufacturing capacity of 8.2 billion doses annually.
• 💵 Unlike the US, where drug prices are high due to limited government regulation, India has price controls on essential drugs, making them more affordable and accessible.
• ⚠️ Pfizer faced criticism for imposing indemnity clauses on smaller nations during the pandemic, while India's vaccines were more accessible and didn't come with such conditions.
• 🔬 India relied on traditional vaccine methods using inactivated viruses, unlike mRNA vaccines, which have raised concerns about long-term effects.
• 👃 India is set to launch the world's first intranasal COVID-19 vaccine, which promises to be cost-effective, scalable, and suitable for mass immunization in low- and middle-income countries.

Q & A

How did India's response to the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrate its resilience?

India demonstrated its resilience by effectively managing the crisis through a timely vaccination drive, overcoming logistical challenges, and public hesitancy, without waiting for external aid to save its population.

What are the two main COVID-19 vaccines used in India?

The two main COVID-19 vaccines used in India are Covishield, which is the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured in India, and Covaxin, developed by the Indian firm Bharat Biotech.

How has India's vaccination drive impacted public health?

The vaccination drive in India has significantly reduced the number of severe COVID-19 cases, helping the country manage the pandemic more effectively.