Context

• Prof. Dr Vinod K Paul, Member-Health, NITI Aayog inaugurated “Conclave on Pandemic Preparedness & Vaccine Innovation” in Hyderabad, organised by Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying with Indian Immunologicals Limited and National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).

India: Global Vaccine Hub

• More than 60% of the vaccines being manufactured in India and more than 50% of the vaccine manufacturers operating out of Hyderabad.

WHO Warning

• The WHO has warned the world that 75% of future public health threats are likely to be zoonotic threats (which could be due to emerging, re-emerging and new pathogens).
• “Future Pandemic Preparedness and Emergency Response: A Framework for Action” by NITI Aayog

Pillars

• 1. Governance, Legislation, Finance and Management
• 2. Data Management, Surveillance and Early Predictive Warning, Forecasting and Modelling
• 3. Research and Innovation, Manufacturing, Infrastructure, Capacity building/Skilling
• 4. Partnership, Community engagement including risk communication, Private sector partnerships, and international collaborations

Steps taken by the Government for preparedness against future pandemics

• Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) strengthened to improve disease surveillance and rapid data reporting.
• Pradhan Mantri- Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission PM-ABHIM (FY 2021-24) for better public health preparedness.
• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has developed two mobile BSL-3 laboratories to provide essential on-site diagnostic services during outbreaks, especially in remote areas.
• National Institute for One Health (NIOH) is being established at Nagpur by ICMR to undertake integrated and holistic research and development across human, animal, plant, and environmental health sectors.
• Med-Tech Mitra: It is a joint initiative by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO).
• National One Health Mission (NOHM) for Pandemic Preparedness.

Immunization Programme/ Achievements of India

• Universal Immunization Programme (UIP): Operational in India since 1985.
• Mission Indradhanush: Launched in 2014, to vaccinate all unvaccinated and partially vaccinated children, pregnant women under UIP.
• Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) 5.0: Started in 2023,catch-up vaccination campaign for children up to 5 years of age and pregnant women, who were left out. It covered 12 diseases.
• U-WIN Portal: To provide a fully digitized record of vaccination for pregnant women and children from birth to 17 years under the Universal Immunization Programme.
• India’s COVID-19 Vaccination Programme: Launched on January 16, 2021
• Polio-Free India: On March 27, 2014, India certified as polio-free.
• Yaws-free: India became the first country to be officially recognized as yaws-free by WHO, well before the global target year of 2020.

Smallpox-free: India declared Smallpox-free in 1977.

Major Global Initiatives Related to Immunization

• Immunization Agenda 2030
• World Immunization Week: 24 to 30 April
• Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI): Founded in 1974 by the World Health Assembly.