(Image source from: news.utexas.edu)

When the vaccine comes to the market, people will require two doses of the vaccine, not one.

While the whole world is eagerly awaiting the vaccine launch, experts now suggest that the vaccine’s efficacy will only be proven in two doses and not one.

Coronavirus has occupied the world mainly in countries like the US, Brazil and India. India’s COVID-19 surge in the recent past is raising alarms among the medical experts.

Also read: COVID-19 surge in India

The need of the hour to any country to get back into normalcy is the efficient vaccine. However, another disturbing news about the vaccine has come to the fore.

The need for two doses of vaccine and not one will likely cause other problems. Yes, you heard it right.

Convincing people to come for a second vaccine dose could be a difficult task. Other potential reasons for the problems are mostly logistical. Difficulties in procuring the test kits and the protective gear throughout the country could also plague disturbing double doses of vaccines for an entire country.

There is no doubt that the coronavirus vaccination program once it starts in the market will be the largest vaccination program that has ever happened in history. This is also going to take lot of effort, a level of sophistication.

There is also an incident in the past where mass vaccination programs have happened on short notice.

In the spring of 2009, when a new strain of flu emerged, a vaccination program has vaccinated 161 million Americans within just months according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

                      (Image source from: spiegel.de)

This also means that the upcoming vaccination program in the world to deal with coronavirus is going to difficult but not impossible.

What are the logistical issues that are imminent?

Firstly, making 660 million doses for 330 million Americans is a tough feat, given the need for double doses of vaccines.

It is not just producing the vaccines, now everything has to be doubled, be it in production, supply chain, the syringes and vials. Everything has to double up and all the people have to get vaccinated in time.

The US is already facing difficulties in procuring test kits in the market and deploying the health care workers with the required protective gear like PPE kits.

What are the human issues involved in double vaccination?

40% of the Americans already are saying that they would not get the vaccination done though even if its free of cost.

Now, imagine getting all these 40 percent people for the second time for vaccination.

Even for people who truly want the vaccine, it will be difficult to make them appear for the second time.

People may have to wait in long lines and queues that too twice!.

However, in every which way the struggle is going to be real.

By Gayatri Yellayi