Realistically, How Can India Expand COVID Vaccine Production Quickly? https://thewire.in/government/realistically-how-can-india-expand-covid-vaccine-production-quickly  Dinesh Abrol and Thomas Franco 
Public sector production units need to be used efficiently, with help from the private sector.

In the beginning of 2000s, 80% of India’s vaccines for the Universal Immunisation Programme were sourced from the public sector. Today, 90% are sourced from the private sector at a higher cost. 

Today, the private sector is itself getting subsidies and advance funding from the government. A grant of Rs 65 crore has been made to Bharat Biotech to repurpose one of its production facilities in Hyderabad to produce Covaxin. This is in addition to government advances of Rs 1,500 crore to Bharat Biotech and Rs 3,000 crore to SII to expand their existing facilities.

The IVC in Chengalpet, Tamil Nadu cost almost Rs 900 crore to set up. Established in 2012, the IVC is yet to produce a single dose of any vaccine.  The IVC needs only Rs 100 crore and some handholding by consultants to start the local production of COVID-19 vaccines, conversations with sources at the unit have shown. Joint ventures can be tried out.

The present government has now initiated moves to make it functional through a public-private partnership. Unfortunately, the private sector has been less than ready to coexist with the functioning public sector.  In an interview to Down to Earth magazine in 2009, Cyrus Poonawalla of SII criticised the suggestion that government funding be used to make public sector vaccine manufacturers GMP-compliant, calling it a “waste of money”.

 

some striking messages from India's 4th Covid Sero-Survey Jul 20, 2021

https://youtube.com/embed/mT7-v5BosHg?start=665&end=1220

4th sero survey finds 2 of 3 Indians with Covid antibodies, but still avoid crowds, ICMR warns https://theprint.in/health/4th-sero-survey-finds-2-of-3-indians-with-covid-antibodies-but-still-avoid-crowds-icmr-warns/699600/  Abantika Ghosh 20 July, 2021
According to fourth national sero survey, by June this year, India was detecting just 1 in every 30 Covid cases, highest sero positivity found in 45-60 years age group (77.6 per cent).

By the first week of June this year, 67.6 per cent Indians had antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the latest sero survey by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) shows.

It also found that seropositivity among minors was very high — 57.2 per cent in the 6-9 years age group. Among those in the 10-17 years age groups, it was 61.6 per cent, while that among healthcare workers stood at 85.2 per cent.

The spiritual lessons from Covid-19 by Avijit Pathak  July 3, 2021 https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/covid-19-pandemic-spiritual-lessons-economic-crisis-7386630/lite/
Pandemic has exposed the limits of modernity. It is time to reflect on the illusory character of our inflated egos, the way we live.

Possibly, the pandemic is compelling us to ask this pertinent question: Can we prioritise love over the power of money? Can we attach more importance to the spontaneity of human relationships rather than the hyper-reality of media simulations?

The pandemic is catastrophic. For the survivors, the world will no longer be the same. Yet, all attempts will be made — particularly, by the brigade of techno-capitalists and narcissistic political bosses — to convince the new generation that life must go on as usual with the same greed, violence and loneliness. However, if you and I are willing to be introspective, contemplative and reflective, we are bound to realise that we must alter the rhythm of life, and learn to live with humility, gratitude and love.

Excerpts from MB's FB post.. 

https://www.newslaundry.com/2021/06/24/should-indian-media-constantly-call-out-the-powerful-for-peddling-falsehoods   Kalpana Sharma

Why should this embroidering of history and facts matter? Because if they are not called out, this is what millions of Indians will believe, that only now is India "atmanirbhar", is producing vaccines indigenously and that the current government has given a boost to routine vaccinations too.

All this then flows seamlessly onto June 21, when India is supposed to have broken a "world record" in vaccinating over 86 lakh people in a day. Actually even this so-called "fact" is not true.

The reason such fact-checking is even noticed today is because it did not take place sufficiently in the past, and particularly over the last seven years. This has contributed to myth building, to the belief of one leader being not just invincible but also infallible. This myth has helped him and his party ride through multiple mistakes and bad policies that have placed such an enormous economic burden on Indians, especially the poor, apart from mismanaging the ongoing pandemic.

Calling out those who get free airtime merely because they are in power is the duty of a free press. It cannot be otherwise.

Why did Shivraj Singh fudge vaccination data? FAKE VACCINATION RECORD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68r9vqXly3A https://www.news18.com/news/india/vaccination-certificates-issued-to-minors-in-madhya-pradesh-3906461.html Shivraj Singh Chouhan के राज में Vaccination के महाअभियान में महाघोटाला ? Ajit Anjum https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjTgwHLw-pc Jun 29, 2021

Different Booster Shots The Way Forward? | Coronavirus: Facts Vs Myths   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhLlseiJjPU Jun 23, 2021  Canada, Spain, UAE and several countries are now offering Pfizer or Moderna vaccines as a booster to AstraZeneca. Russia and China, too, are looking at a mix and match of other vaccines. Russia, for instance, has been planning on testing a combination of the AstraZeneca and Sputnik V vaccines - which could be interesting for India. NDTV speaks to experts on whether this could lead to better immune response and solve delays due to vaccine supply shortage.

My COVID ANTIBODIES + VACCINE? A call for AUTHORITIES to recognize NATURAL IMMUNITY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7PJT9D7twUThe rush for vaccine certificate and passports..

 

COVID-19 2nd Wave: A Look At Official Death Count And Actual Numbers | Reality https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gUnl9zFDGI  Check New data suggests that India's COVID-19 death count could be higher than the official numbers released by the government. On Reality Check, a look at the Covid death numbers from various states.

Madhya Pradesh saw nearly three times more deaths than normal after second wave of Covid-19 struck https://scroll.in/article/996772/madhya-pradesh-saw-nearly-three-times-more-deaths-than-normal-after-second-wave-of-covid-19-struck  Official data on all-cause mortality in the state in April and May 2021 raises questions about the official Covid-19 death toll.
Rukmini S Jun 12, 202

https://twitter.com/Rukmini/status/1397394246244597762

Excess death may not be COVID death, but the death are in the time of COVID which at least has put pressure on the health system. 

Fake Address, Numbers: At Peak of 2nd Wave, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZtYcNJHVgY

while India was struggling with the Second wave, mass gatherings like Kumbh Mela were organized.
There were large crowds. Lakhs of people gathering on the Ghats of Ganga. They were happy and celebrating. They were taking holy dip in Ganga and Going about their rituals. There was hardly any social distancing, some were going maskless, leave alone the covid appropriate behaviour. 1 Lakh Fake COVID free Test Reports Issued During Kumbh

 

Kumbh Mela: Probe flags around 1 lakh 'fake' COVID-19 test results; an overview of the controversy https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/other/kumbh-mela-probe-flags-around-1-lakh-fake-covid-19-test-results-an-overview-of-the-controversy/ar-AAL3GiD A large number of the four lakh COVID-19 test results issued during the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar may have been fake, as per a preliminary probe by the Uttarakhand health department.

Preparing for a post Pandemic Economy: from Sunset to Sunrise areas of growth.. amitabh kant 4th March 2021

http://niti.gov.in/preparing-post-pandemic-economy-sunset-sunrise-areas-growth  Firstly, the future lies in mobility that will be shared, connected and electric. To support the EV segment, the government has already brought about numerous interventions, including a lower GST structure, tax deduction on interest for loans, and has supported procurement through the FAME II scheme.
Secondly, we must focus on Advance Cell Chemistries. India should take the lead in supporting the manufacturing and scale up of these new age chemistries which will advance battery storage.
The third area for rapid transformation is Artificial Intelligence (AI). An AI enabling policy environment supplemented by young, data hungry entrepreneurs and product managers is crucial to evolve as a global technology leader.
The fourth key area of transformation is the 5th generation mobile network technology which will radically transform the world of communication, mobile technologies and flow of data. License conditions for 5G in India should therefore ensure that Indian companies get access to background IPR from global players on FRANDS terms. It is imperative that we create our own end-to-end 5G ecosystem so that we can address our critical security concerns.
The fifth key area is Genomics. We need to set in motion a virtuous cycle of private investment in genetic testing, analysis counseling and therapy.

The production linked incentive schemes, reforms in labour laws, GST, corporate tax rationalization and an overall ease in doing business will give a fillip to India’s growth. India must seize the opportunity in sunrise areas of growth - this would require size, scale, speed of action and a focus on technological disruption.

Parakala Prabhakar​ https://youtu.be/PiiK4S47tM4?t=86 The ruling dispensation seems to be mired in a shamanic view of COVID. Also the planning for the post covid economy seems to be limited  to talk about e mobility, next gen batteries, artificial intelligence, and 5G technologies.   No bread and butter issues, that afflict the marginal and vulnerable today or in the next few years.. 

There is very little post pandemic scenario planning, and the parliamentary committee on Finance reportedly expressed dissatisfaction the Niti Aayog presentation, while it spoke of two extreme possibilities, did not outline anything about what India could need to do.. Public Universities are also not working on post pandemic scenarios..

Obscurantist narratives prevail in the current dispensation which has lead to underestimation of the challenge and overestimation of our exceptionalism.. preceding an assault on scientific temper.

Ref: Preparing for a post Pandemic Economy: from Sunset to Sunrise areas of growth.. amitabh kant 4th March 2021 http://emeets.lnwr.in/index.php/covid/813-preparing-for-a-post-pandemic-economy-from-sunset-to-sunrise-areas-of-growth

 Ref: Indian economy to bounce back soon from effects of COVID-19: NITI Aayog Vice Chairman https://dst.gov.in/indian-economy-bounce-back-soon-effects-covid-19-niti-aayog-vice-chairman 

 

For other posts on COVID see: http://emeets.lnwr.in/index.php/covid

On Economy & Equity see http://emeets.lnwr.in/index.php/economy-equity