US & India Collaborate to Enhance Health Outcomes Using COVID-19 Pandemic Insights

India's COVID-19 vaccination program, led by the Government of India, was the largest in the world, administering over 2.2 billion doses.

The United States and India are leveraging lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic to improve health outcomes in communities across India.

This collaboration was highlighted during an event titled "Advancing Localization: Adapt, Enable, and Empower," hosted by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The event brought together representatives from India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, state health departments, international and local development partners, donors, and community leaders to recognize the vital contributions of local actors and communities in advancing inclusive healthcare.

Strengthening Immunization Efforts

India's COVID-19 vaccination program, led by the Government of India, was the largest in the world, administering over 2.2 billion doses.

Through USAID’s Momentum-Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity (MOMENTUM) project, the agency collaborated with 26 local partners to reach more than 60 million people across 18 Indian states.

The project facilitated the administration of over 15 million COVID-19 vaccines using India’s robust immunization platform.

It also supported the "Har Ghar Dastak" (door-to-door) vaccination campaign, which aimed to increase vaccination coverage among vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations, including the elderly, tribal communities, and transgender individuals.

Localized Approaches

The insights gained from the MOMENTUM project are expected to bolster routine immunization efforts, strengthen health systems, and address vaccine hesitancy.

Alexandria Huerta, USAID/India Acting Mission Director, emphasized the importance of locally-led development in this collaboration, stating, "The United States and India are partnering to improve health outcomes for the world, fostering healthy and prosperous communities. Locally-led development is at the heart of this collaboration, enabling communities to lead and shape their own futures."

Huerta highlighted the success of the MOMENTUM project, which engaged more than two dozen local partners, reaching 60 million people.

"This model illustrates how harnessing local expertise and leadership can drive systemic change, achieve sustainable progress, and set a powerful example of how localized efforts can achieve global impact," she said.

Overcoming Vaccine Hesitancy

Dr Sanjay Kapur, MD, John Snow India, detailed the efforts made through a network of over 380 local partnerships to reach and vaccinate the remaining 20% of the population.

This included identifying vaccine-hesitant areas, prioritizing populations, engaging local influencers, and coordinating with state governments and local partners.

During the event, representatives from local civil society organizations shared their experiences in mobilizing communities and promoting vaccine acceptance.

The discussions underscored the importance of localization, behavior change communication, and tailoring health policies to local contexts to achieve successful health outcomes.

The event highlighted the critical role that local actors play in driving systemic change and ensuring sustainable progress in public health.