Ever since the spread of coronavirus took on pandemic proportions, hopes for a potential return to the pre-Covid-19 normalcy have been linked worldwide to the development, manufacture, trial and roll out of effective vaccines.

Looking back once can discern several phases in the world’s response to the deadly virus. First, the deadly virus was seen as the great leveller, indiscriminate in its lethality. Then hopes were raised of finding cures, even a vaccine. It was however pointed out that the development, trial, validation and mass manufacture of a vaccine was a very long process. The attention then turned to other remedies. Several medicines were touted as promising but in the end none proved universally effective.

Meanwhile researchers pressed on with efforts at producing effective vaccines. The trials and licensing processes were shortened and expedited. Several compromises were allowed in view of the high toll the disease was taking. Finally, there are several vaccines and immunisation has started in many countries.

Historically, vaccines have been a great success story. It saves millions of lives every year so that equitable access to vaccines has come to be recognised as a fundamental human right. A vaccine against a particular micro-organism provides our adaptive immunity intelligence about its structure and genes. These immune memories maybe administered via injections or oral doses.

Many types of Covid-19 vaccines are currently in development. They range from mRNA vaccines to ‘killed-whole-virus’ vaccines. So far, ten anti-Covid-19 vaccines have been authorised for use in various parts of the world. Eighty-one vaccines are still undergoing trials with twenty at advanced stages.

In Pakistan, the government has decided to vaccinate nearly 30 percent of the population. Of this 20 percent will get vaccines supplied free of cost under COVAX facility. The vaccines will be delivered by the federal government to the provincial governments, who in turn will distribute it among district health administrations. The quality of the vaccine service delivery will be ensured through tracking of the cold chain.

Effective modeling of the epidemic during the first two waves of Covid-19 allowed the government to make informed decisions with regard to standard operating procedures and interventions. It will likely continue to have a role over the next year.