- The world community continues to bear the brunt of the novel coronavirus even after two long years of relentless hardships, challenges, and debilitating aftereffects holds testimony to the fact that the once-in-a-century pandemic is not going to go away just like that. We all know how humanity ably aided by the scientific and medical community rose to the challenges by not only thwarting the virus’s ferocity to a great extent but also succeeding in inventing a protective shield in the form of several vaccines in record time as well. After the uncertainties of these two years, humanity is slowly reverting to pre-pandemic economic activities despite knowing the dangers of variants lurking around the corners to spread the dreaded zoonotic terror again.
PC: PTI
- The Indian response over the two years has been creditable as the decelerating confirmed infection rates bear testimony to the way the nation went about addressing the menace. As experience suggests, Covid keeps taking peculiar turns in some countries and as reported, yet another highly transmissible mutant dubbed XE has surfaced recently much to the chagrin of all concerned. Thus, it becomes incumbent on the part of health departments, both at the central and state levels, to refocus attention on vaccination. Now, there are laggards in the vaccination drive like the Northeast (minus Assam) and Jharkhand who are to be motivated to press ahead on a war footing. Mind you, any complacency would prove to be disastrous though.
- As reports mention, the proportions of double-dosed in Bihar, Punjab, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu also significantly trail the national average of 82%. The reasons are rank misinformation, conspiracy theories, and religious superstitions coupled with a remoteness that has hit the Northeast states badly. Here those double-dosed are just 58%. Jharkhand officials attributed the state’s low figure of 57% to migration, a disputed claim. Worryingly, nearly 20 crore people in the 15+ population are yet to get both doses. Vaccine hesitancy and complacency appear to dog the precaution dose program too. Remember, merely because Covid infections are presently down doesn’t mean protection will endure for eternity.
PC: Pharmaceutical
- As a decisive step forward, the risks of contracting serious illness amid uncontrolled Covid spread need to be conveyed properly, especially in remote areas and states where adequate hospital facilities are unavailable. Most importantly, the decision on allowing all adults to get boosters should be taken expeditiously as the availability of vaccines are no longer a constraint to embark on the program. One cannot dispute the fact about the feeling of well-being that a booster accords to its recipients returning to work and commuting amidst crowds swelling by the day. Yes, we as responsible citizens must still adhere to the Covid appropriate behavior even as few states have relaxed the mandatory wearing of masks. Let’s play safe to continue to stay safe.
