Universal vaccination for Covid-19 irrational: AIIMS Professor

The need is to vaccinate people who have not contracted Covid-19

Emerging trends in Covid-19 infection has had an impact on how public health professionals see it, with most of them having varying views on the spread and containment of the epidemic. Speaking on the subject of vaccinations at the Health4All Episode-16, Dr Sanjay Kumar Rai, President, IPHA, Professor, Dept of Community Medicines, AIIMS, New Delhi stated, “Universal vaccination is completely irrational as there is no additional benefit. It is unethical because the risk is more than the benefit. Now, there is sufficient evidence that those who have recovered from Covid-19 are the best-protected persons on the earth,’’

He further added,"Vaccine is the smart way of controlling diseases. However, in the current scenario, those recovered from Covid-19 infection are best-protected people, so vaccinate such people first, who are not Covid-19 infected. Vaccination and natural infection will provide herd immunity. Natural immunity provides a better and longer duration of protection. Studies also prove that you may develop lifelong immunity after a natural infection. Recently, CDC has observed that natural infection provides better and longer protection. The vaccine was a priority for the susceptible population. Natural infection is also helping boost immunity just like vaccines.”

Emphasising the judicious use of vaccination, Dr Rai added, “Every year, we save 3 million lives by vaccination. As vaccines are precious; let’s use them judiciously. Currently, 334 vaccines for Coronavirus are in different stages of development (140 on clinical trials and 194 in pre-clinical stages); and 33 vaccines are approved for full use. So, we must vaccinate those who haven’t had Covid-19 ever. Vaccines are effective in preventing severity and death up to 80-90% in a susceptible population. More than 60% of the population across the world have received 1st dose of Covid-19 vaccines.”