The vaccine war
“Vaccine War” is a 2023 Indian Hindi-language medical docudrama film directed by Vivek Agnihotri and produced by Pallavi Joshi. The film delves into the gripping story behind the development of Covaxin, India’s indigenous vaccine against COVID-19, during the height of the pandemic. Based on the book “Going Viral” by Professor Balram Bhargava of the Indian Council of Medical Research, the film sheds light on the dedicated efforts of the scientists involved in creating this crucial vaccine. The cast includes renowned actors like Nana Patekar, Pallavi Joshi, Raima Sen, Anupam Kher, Girija Oak, Nivedita Bhattacharya, Sapthami Gowda and Mohan Kapur. Released on September 28, 2023, “Vaccine War” received a mixed response from critics.
Interestingly, the film was screened at the 54th Indian panoramic section of IFFI, where it got a standing ovation. Despite its commercial difficulties, the film won recognition at the Indian International Film Festival, reflecting the impact of its portrayal of the tireless scientific efforts behind the creation of Covaxin.
Explanation of the end of the vaccine war and spoilers
“The Vaccine War” concludes with the successful development of COVAXIN, India’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially, the vaccine faces skepticism and negative reactions, partly fueled by media narratives and lack of WHO approval. This creates barriers to international travel for vaccinated Indians.
The climax of the film occurs during a press conference where officials from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV) address these challenges. They defend the effectiveness of the vaccine and debunk misinformation. This moment is crucial to counter negative perceptions and restore trust in COVAXIN. One notable aspect is the media scrutiny portrayed in the film, particularly by journalist Rohini Dhulia. His questioning of vaccine efficacy and challenges to the credibility of the scientific community introduces a critique of media practices and the influence of the pharmaceutical lobby.
In a dramatic twist, Professor Balram, a key character and leader, counters the negative image in the media. He highlights the scientific community’s commitment to national well-being above government policies. The Supreme Court intervenes, ordering the removal of negative news about COVAXIN and imposing a gag order. This is presented as a vindication of the scientists’ efforts. The film concludes on a personal note, shedding light on the impact of the pandemic on the families of scientists. It also addresses the mental health issues faced by their children, highlighting the personal, often invisible, sacrifices made by ‘COVID warriors’.
The final scene symbolizes the culmination of the collective ordeal and shows a reconciliatory gesture from Prof. Balram towards Dr. Priya Abraham. This gesture represents the triumph of science over adversity and underlines the resilience and dedication of the scientific community during one of the most challenging periods in recent history.
The cast of the vaccine war
|
Actor |
Character |
|
Nana Patekar |
Dr. Balram Bhargava, Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research |
|
Joshi Pallavi |
Dr. Priya Abraham, Director ICMR-National Institute of Virology |
|
Raima Sen |
Rohini Singh Dhulia, Science Editor, The Daily Wire |
|
Sapthami Gowda |
Dr. Sreelekshmy Mohandas, ICMR-NIV Scientist |
|
Anupam Kher |
Cabinet Secretary |
|
Girija Oak |
Dr Nivedita Gupta, Head of Virology Department, ICMR |
|
Nivedita Bhattacharya |
Dr. Pragya Yadav, ICMR-NIV Scientist |
|
Mohan Kapur |
Dr. Raman Gangakhedkar, Chief and Scientist, Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, ICMR |
|
Anchal Dwivedi |
Dr. Enna Dogra Gupta, ICMR Scientist |
|
Arvind Paswan |
Dr. Rajni Kant Srivastava, Deputy Director General, ICMR |
|
Mayukh |
Dr. Samiran Panda, Chief and Scientist, Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, ICMR (also Director, ICMR-NARI) |
|
Deepjyoti Das |
Editor |
|
Vrinda Kher |
Dr. Varsha Potdar, Scientist and Senior Research Officer at ICMR-NIV |
|
Suhita Thatte |
Rohini Singh Dhulia’s house help |
|
benny brown |
Security guard Bahadur |
|
Manas Gupta |
gardener’s son |
|
Divya Seth |
Dr. Bhargava’s wife |
|
Ruben Israel |
Dr. Priya Abraham’s husband |
|
Arjun Dwivedi |
Dr Sanjay Yadav |
|
Asheesh Kapur |
Vikas Gupta |
|
Aarav Shukla |
Son of Dr. Pragya Yadav |
|
Kavya Goel |
Dr. Pragya Yadav’s daughter |
|
Rudra Choudhary |
Son of Dr. Nivedita Gupta |
|
Nitant Trivedi |
Son of Dr. Nivedita Gupta |
|
Dheeraj Sharma |
Professor Vijay Raghavan |
The Vaccine War Plot
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a team of dedicated scientists from an Indian biomedical laboratory embarks on a crucial mission to develop an indigenous vaccine. Dr Balram Bhargava, Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), is leading this high-risk project, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Bharat Biotech.
At the center of the vaccine development effort is Dr Priya Abraham, director of the ICMR-National Institute of Virology. She leads a scientific team comprising experts such as virologists Dr. Sreelekshmy Mohandas, Dr. Nivedita Gupta and Dr. Pragya Yadav, along with epidemiologists and infectious disease scientists Dr. Rajni Kant Srivastava, Dr. Raman Gangakhedkar, Dr. Samiran Panda, Dr. Varsha Potdar and Dr. Enna Dogra Gupta.
The vaccine, called BBV152, is made using the SARS-CoV-2 strain (NIV-2020-770) obtained from tourists arriving in New Delhi. The team meticulously sequences the ‘Vero CCL-81’ cells, depositing the resulting genome sequence in the GISAID database. Their hard work pays off when they announce the successful development of an inactivated whole virion vaccine against SARS-CoV-2: BBV152.
The vaccine shows promising results, eliciting a neutralizing antibody response in animal studies and advancing to a Phase I clinical trial against hCoV-19/India/2020770. This narrative unfolds as a testament to the tireless efforts of these scientists racing against time to combat the global pandemic, displaying the spirit of collaboration and scientific prowess in the face of adversity.
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The vaccine war trailer
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