Vaccine at 18 – Here Is What Amul and Everyone Else Is Saying

The only thing that holds out any ray of home during these dark times is quick, efficient and widespread vaccination of the population. First, older people became eligible, then it was people with comorbidities, then people above 45. That still left out a majority of Indians. So when the government announced that everyone over the age of 18 (vaccine requirement, safety and efficacy is not fully proved in kids) people said ‘finally!’

From 1^st May, everyone over the age of 18 will be eligible to be vaccinated. This is a welcome step though some feel that this move should have come earlier.

Amid a constant stream of bad news, this is good news. However, given the fact of India's huge population and the challenges of vaccine manufacture and distribution, the task of vaccinating every Indian adult is gargantuan.

One of India's best-known business people Anand Mahindra also welcomed the move and made a pitch for the profit motive as being desirable for ramping up producing.

Institutions such as courts have been vaccinating bar members, such as in Gujarat High Court. Similarly, private companies can also take steps to privately acquire vaccines to inoculate their employees and even perhaps their employees' families for a more efficient and faster vaccine rollout.

While the centre has announced vaccine eligibility, adequate steps are not taken for ramping up production. Some see vaccine diplomacy as having come at the price of domestic requirement. Now that states have to acquire their own vaccine, people fear that the financial burden will be passed on to citizens in cash-strapped states.

Several governments such as Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh have announced that vaccines will be supplied free from the state for all above 18 years of age.

The ever topical Amul advert had this to say – however, this isn't strictly accurate. Indians over the age of 18 do have to wait till 1^st May to receive their first shot of the vaccine.