JSI Director Discusses Management and Rollout of COVID-19 Vaccine in India

Sanjay Kapur, managing director of John Snow India, has been featured in BW Wellbeing World for his work through the MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity project. The USAID-funded project works globally to reach under-immunized children and populations with life-saving vaccines and integrated health services. The project is supporting the Ministry of Health and Universal Immunization Programme with the technical management and rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines for 50 million people in 18 states of India. This involved training more than 14,000 people on supply chain and logistics, vaccine service delivery, and community engagement.

“Increasing vaccination coverage among children ages 12–14 years is critical to reduce COVID-19–associated burden,” said Dr. Kapur at a recent event to discuss vaccination coverage. “With cases of COVID-19 on a steep rise again, there is an urgent need to step up public engagement and communication to build confidence and uptake of the Corbevax, the vaccine prescribed for children and adolescents. Moreover, it will be essential to provide people who are hesitant or otherwise unmotivated with the resources, information, and support they need to make the vaccination decision that is right for them.”

Read the full feature to learn more about the people that the project serves, its partners, and the challenges they have overcome during COVID-19.