Hyderabad: The Covid-19 pandemic that has been unrelentingly causing the world to shiver in fear over the past one year continues to afflict different countries striking again and again in a wave-like pattern. Great Britain which is already in the grip of the worst ever recession in the past three centuries, has vaccinated over 1.5 crore people. Still, it is hesitating to ease the lockdown. Germany and France, along with Israel, Netherlands, Portugal and Vietnam believe that there is no other alternative than lockdown to deal with the virus. Adding to the concerns is the information that Kent Covid variant of the UK is up to 70 per cent more virulent.
More than 80 lakh people have been vaccinated in India and no fresh Covid cases were reported in 185 districts of the country for the last one week. The disease remains confined to states like Kerala and Maharashtra. This situation has given rise to a dangerous sense of contentment among the citizenry.
The Central government is saying that in another two or three weeks it will take up vaccination of persons aged 50 plus years. It is also assuring that another 18 vaccines will soon be made available in the country. It was planned to vaccinate 3 crore frontline Covid warriors in the first phase. But crores of people did not come forth to get themselves immunized due to vaccine hesitancy.
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Studies have revealed that with the present pace of vaccination drive, it will take another five years for the vaccine to reach every corner of the country. Aside from the mutations taken by the virus, there is vaccine hesitancy on the one hand and on the other crores of people are waiting for the life-saver vaccine. The Center should take steps to resolve this stalemate.
India is the world capital in the manufacture of life-giving vaccines. The country is also renowned for its capacity to transport vaccines to every nook and corner of its geographic area.
On the other hand, it is said that only 10 per cent of the persons that took the first dose of vaccine bothered to take the second dose, even after they were repeatedly told that the second dose should be taken without fail on the 28th day after the first dose. Only 0.6 per cent of the country’s population has been vaccinated till date. This clearly tells us about the gargantuan task that lies ahead.
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The third serological survey held nation-wide has revealed that 21.5 per cent of the country’s population has developed antibodies to fight Covid. That means only one in five persons has immunity to disease. The people without immunity should be shielded with vaccination. Herd immunity will be developed only when the antibodies are developed in 60 to 70 per cent of the population. In this scenario, it is the Center’s duty to provide the umbrella cover of safety to the countrymen through vaccination.
The World Health Organization has stated that nobody is safe until everybody is safe. This sane advice deserves to be put into practice. Private hospitals should be also made to participate in the vaccination drive to speed up the process.
It is said that the Covid-19 vaccine expires within a span of six months. Immediate action should be taken for the effective utilization of the crores of vaccine doses that remain with the manufacturers. Strong do's and don'ts along with a perfect policy framework should be evolved to control the manufacture, storage and distribution of the vaccine, so that it is not diverted to the black market. Vaccine production should be encouraged to ensure enough supply to meet the demand. It is also essential that the Covid – 19 protocol of wearing masks and maintaining social distancing is continued for a prolonged period as the duration of the vaccine’s efficacy is not known.
