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Rollout of COVID-19 Vaccination in India: A SWOT Analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2021

Priyanka Sharma  and
Geeta Pardeshi
Priyanka Sharma
Affiliation:
Department of Community Medicine, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India
Geeta Pardeshi*
Affiliation:
Department of Community Medicine, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India
*
Corresponding author: Geeta Pardeshi, Email: [email protected].
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Abstract

Objective:

This study aimed to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) in the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in India.

Methods:

The internal and external attributes affecting the vaccination rollout identifed by reviewing the scientific literature, government guidelines, and press statements, along with media reports, were categorized into the SWOT matrix.

Results:

The existing immunization program, indigenous vaccine production, setting up of the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19, updated guidelines, and training followed by dry runs were identified as strengths. The weaknesses identified in the program were knowledge gap about vaccines, apprehensions, lack of temperature loggers and vaccine vial monitors, space contraints in health care set up, demand supply gap, and digital divide. The experience of conducting the general elections, intersectoral coordination forged during the pandemic response, Information Technology platform, and vaccine eagerness present opportunities to strengthen the program. The emergence of virus variants, commercial interests, laxity in COVID-19 appropriate behavior, and receding wave of the pandemic can pose significant threats to the implementation of the vaccination campaign.

Conclusion:

The study identified factors that can aid designing effective measures and countermeasures for the COVID-19 vaccination rollout. This SWOT analysis is relevant to low- and middle-income countries planning to implement the COVID-19 vaccination in the near future.

Keywords

COVID-19 vaccinationpandemicSWOT
Type
Brief Report
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 16 , Issue 6 , December 2022 , pp. 2310 - 2313
Copyright
© Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2021

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