February 12, 2026
In his Vital Signs column in the Hindustan Times, OHT’s Dr. Ramanan Laxminarayan shares why India must invest more in animal vaccines to strengthen rural prosperity, reduce antibiotic use, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and lower pandemic risk.
India has more cattle than China, the European Union, and the United States combined, and livestock supports nearly 100 million rural households. For small farmers, animals are a vital source of income, nutrition, and financial security. Yet preventable livestock diseases continue to reduce milk yields, productivity, and farmer incomes.
Dr. Laxminarayan highlights vaccination as one of the most cost-effective tools to improve animal health, boost productivity, and reduce reliance on antibiotics. Expanding animal vaccine production could also enhance India’s pandemic preparedness by building flexible manufacturing capacity. He writes, “A bold public investment in animal vaccines can be transformational for rural India. If we are serious about strengthening rural prosperity, meeting climate commitments, and safeguarding against the next pandemic, expanding access to animal vaccines deserves a place at the center of the roadmap for Viksit Bharat.”
Read it here.
