Targeted distribution of Vax improves infection control- study

A recent study published in the British Medical journal-ebm found that effective control of infectious diseases could be possible through targetted distribution of vaccines. The targeted approach will help in reducing the absolute risk with a minimum number of doses and priority should be given to areas with the highest baseline risks. The study is relevant as it addresses vaccine inequality, which in itself could potentially trigger new viral infections, as found in the case of Covid.

The study has been undertaken by researchers at the Allende Program in Social Medicine at The University of New Mexico in the USA and Thiruvananthapuram based Global Institute of Public Health.

Many countries are already prioritising the healthcare worker and the elderly for vaccine distribution. But the study emphasised that more specificity may be needed to reduce hospitalisation, severe diseases and death. Vaccine distribution programmes and outreach efforts could prioritise subpopulation in geographical areas with high baseline risk during an outbreak.

“ The study helps policymakers to adopt an evidence-based approach towards an effective vaccine strategy. A more scientific vaccine distribution strategy would result in more effective control of not just Covid, but other diseases as well,” said K Rajasekharan Nayar of the Global Institute of Public Health and Santhigiri Research Foundation, one of the co-authors of the paper.

The formulation adopted by the study to determine the minimum number needed to be vaccinated (NNV)for an absolute risk reduction (ARR) of Covid found that Kerala State and Ladakh territory would have received prioritization in getting Covid vaccine when compared to Uttar Pradesh.