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of May 2021. A fresh surge of cases and a new variant Omicron had surfaced in December 2021
and was spreading at the time of writing.
Figure 1: Daily COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in India
Figure 1: Daily COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in India
Number of Daily COVID cases
450000 7000
400000
6000
350000 Cases Deaths
300000 5000
250000 4000
200000
3000
150000
100000 2000
50000
1000
0
-50000 0
1/14/2020 2/14/2020 3/14/2020 4/14/2020 5/14/2020 6/14/2020 7/14/2020 8/14/2020 9/14/2020 10/14/2020 11/14/2020 12/14/2020 1/14/2021 2/14/2021 3/14/2021 4/14/2021 5/14/2021 6/14/2021 7/14/2021 8/14/2021 9/14/2021 10/14/2021 11/14/2021 12/14/2021 1/14/2022
Source: World Health Organisation
Source: World Health Organisation
10.4 To save lives, Government adopted a multi-pronged approach viz., (i) restrictions/partial
lockdowns, (ii) building capacity in health infrastructure, (iii) COVID-19 appropriate behaviour,
testing, tracing, treatment, and (iv) vaccination drive. Measures were taken to break the chain
of transmission in terms of containment and buffer zones; perimeter control; contact tracing;
isolation and testing of suspect cases and high-risk contacts, and creation of quarantine facilities.
Preventive strategy changed in response to the changing situation observed based on real-time
data and evidence. Testing capacity in the country increased exponentially. Tests for COVID-19
were also made free in all government centers. Rapid Antigen Test kits for faster screening were
introduced. Manufacturing capacity of N-95 masks, ventilators, personal protective equipment
kits, sanitizers were ramped up in a mission mode. Massive infrastructure was created for
isolation beds, dedicated intensive care unit beds, and supply of medical oxygen. To meet the
exponential rise in medical oxygen demand during second COVID wave, government engaged
even railways, Air Force, Navy and industry. In the fight against coronavirus, COVID vaccines
emerged best shield against the disease to save lives and sustain livelihood.
COVID Vaccination Strategy
10.5 Guided by scientific and epidemiological evidence, World Health Organisation (WHO)
guidelines and global best practices, India’s National COVID Vaccination Program has been one
of the world’s largest vaccination programs . National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration
2
for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) on the basis of concurrent scientific evidence guided the program. The
program was envisioned to vaccinate all eligible beneficiaries aged 18 years and above in the
shortest possible time.
10.6 “The Liberalized Pricing and Accelerated National COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy”, was
implemented from 1 May to 20 June 2021. Under the strategy, States/Union Territories (UTs)
st
th
2 Guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination of children between 15-18 years and precaution dose to health care workers (HCWs), Frontline workers
(FLWs) & 60+ population with comorbidities 1
