Indian Vaccination System

India and China were two countries where  form of inoculation was practiced even before 16th century.
Medical science in ancient India and China were relatively developed and highly organised. The history of India’s foray into Western medicine, thereof to vaccination, and the subsequent emergence of vaccine are intertwined with British colonial rule. 
The first vaccine of Smallpok in India was initiated at Mysore during the reign of Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar III -1799 to1831.
His younger wife Maharani Devajammani posed for portrait which was painted by Irish born painter Thomas Hickey to install confidence of the vaccine among Mysureans.
The youngest woman, on the right is Maharani Devajammani. She has her hand on her left arm, suggesting she has been vaccinated against smallpox.
Only if our country were not colonized, the Indian system of medicine and vaccination would have been par with Western countries today.
The challenges faced in delivering lifesaving vaccines to the targeted beneficiaries need to be addressed from the existing knowledge and learning from the past. 
The history of vaccines and vaccination in India with an objective to derive lessons for policy direction to expand the benefits of vaccination in the country. 
A brief historical perspective on smallpox disease and preventive efforts since antiquity is followed by an overview of 19th century efforts to replace variolation by vaccination, setting up of a few vaccine institutes, cholera vaccine trial and the discovery of plague vaccine. 
The early twentieth century witnessed the challenges in expansion of smallpox vaccination, typhoid vaccine trial in Indian army personnel, and setting up of vaccine institutes in almost each of the then Indian States. 
In the post-independence period, the BCG vaccine laboratory and other national institutes were established; a number of private vaccine manufacturers came up, besides the continuation of smallpox eradication effort till the country became smallpox free in 1977. 
The Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI) (1978) and then Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) (1985) were launched in India. 
The intervening events since UIP till India being declared non-endemic for poliomyelitis in 2012 have been described. 
Though the preventive efforts from diseases were practiced in India, the reluctance, opposition and a slow acceptance of vaccination have been the characteristic of vaccination history in the country.
The operational challenges keep the coverage inequitable in the country. 
The lessons from the past events have been analysed and interpreted to guide present immunization efforts.
India has administered over 158 million Covid-19 vaccine doses as of May1st, in a country of 1.4 billion people.
With vaccination supplies dwindling,the government’s goal to vaccinate 300 million Indians by August 2021 cannot possibly be achieved and when is 100% immunization possible?
Does vaccination give lifetime immunity!
If not we need to change our lifestyle to accommodate pandamic just as hypertension diabetics etc.

"Diseases can rarely be eliminated through early diagnosis or good treatment, but prevention can eliminate disease." 

Gavi's Touch Of Health and Fitness:
https://www.facebook.com/2061GaviRangappa/?ti=as
https://t.me/joinchat/V97BioW-aSl5qTNO
https://www.facebook.com/groups/355112542458490/

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