Dr Mansukh Mandaviya unveils ‘India’s Vaccine Growth Story’ at World Book Fair 2023

New Delhi: Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya released the book ‘India’s Vaccine Growth Story – From Cowpox to Vaccine Maitri’ authored by Sajjan Singh Yadav, Additional Secretary, Govt of India at the World Book fair 2023, at Pragati Maidan.

The book elaborates on India’s impressive achievement in developing, producing and distributing COVID-19 vaccines.

Praising the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s faith in the Indian scientific community and the stellar healthcare professionals across country, Dr. Mandaviya said this combination led India to conquer unsurmountable challenges to achieve a feat no country has before, catering not just to its own nation, but supplying life-saving vaccines worldwide, all in due time. Lauding the unwavering dedication of healthcare professionals, Dr. Mandaviya stated that “India administered 2.2 billion doses as a part of the world’s largest COVID vaccination drive without any shortages across the nation resulted in saving 3.4 million lives.” The Minister also highlighted that when other countries were struggling with vaccine hesitancy, India set an exemplary pro-vaccination Covid management model.

Dr. Mandaviya stated “It gives me immense pleasure to see research, manufacturing and vaccine drive has been portrayed in comprehensive fashion that recounts not just the pandemic crisis but also delves into vaccine history, that can be traced 2500 years back.”

The Health Minister urged writers to come to fore stating that “Research-based documentation is a medium that can bring to light India’s heritage, illustrating to the world possibilities and solutions, as India’s Covid-19 trajectory has done, leaning on our traditional roots and heritage”. He further elaborated “our heritage reflects our knowledge and science that have stood the test of time, and proven exemplary in times of crisis”. Citing the example of our traditional greeting ‘Namaste’, that became a global way of greeting through the pandemic crisis, the Health Minister stated that “our people must search within our heritage, they will find a deep repository of traditions based on scientific processes that have held India in good stead, and widely acknowledged by the world.”

Rajesh Bhushan, Union Health Secretary and other senior officers were also present on the occasion. Rajesh Bhushan said that there are 12 kinds of diseases that can be prevented with vaccines known as vaccine-preventable diseases are a part of India’s universal vaccination group, and the government of India provides these vaccines free of cost to expecting mothers, young and neonates.

The book entitled “India’s Vaccine Growth Story- From Cowpox to Vaccine Maitri presents World’s largest vaccination drive for COVID-19 conducted by India is elaborately. Tough and multifaceted challenges overcome in the process like vaccine hesitancy, eagerness, availability, transportation, equitable access, effective communication and expectation management, cold chain dynamics, vaccine centers logistics have been explained too. The author has also delved upon future challenges that may emerge for vaccinology and new vistas for the growth of Indian vaccine industry in a candid manner. It also digs deep into India’s impressive achievement in developing, producing and distributing COVID-19 vaccines.

Lok Ranjan, Secretary, Government of India, senior government officials and Govind Prasad Sharma, Chairman of National Book Trust were also present.