- Indications appearing in some pockets of the country are not only ominous but also portends trouble for the economy still taking smaller steps towards returning to normalcy on the back of successive lockdowns to curb the menace of the pandemic. The Union and State Health Ministries have been carrying out extensive exhortations to not let our guard down while urging us to follow safety and health guidelines. Wearing masks, maintaining social distance, and frequent washing of hands will remain our potent weapons for the foreseeable future in keeping the virus at bay. Unfortunately, the people are letting their guard down too soon as can be seen around.
PC:
- Apart from Maharashtra, some of the other states are gradually witnessing a spike in the confirmed infection cases over the last couple of weeks giving credence to the experts’ cautioning us about the second wave striking with more vengeance. The Chief Minister of Maharashtra has rightly warned the people of the state to exercise more precautions lest the specter of lockdown will make its unwelcoming presence yet again. Nobody in their right senses would be wishing to undergo the hardships and challenges that we all dread to even imagine. Trust me, the psychological scar of the earlier imposed lockdown is yet to heal for millions.
- Worryingly, the vaccination drive kick-started last month with such fanfare has been disappointing, to say the least going by the percentage of identified category of people inoculated so far. Though, envisaged vaccination drive appears well thought out on paper, the coverage is mediocre lagging way behind in reaching out to the intended beneficiaries. As can be observed by the statistics released by the health authorities, there seems to be a lack of urgency in reaching out to ensure the immunization task set out is reasonably covered. The public healthcare officials appear to be failing to pull up their socks to impress upon the apprehensive people.
PC: Jayanta Dey
- Make no mistake, aftereffects following immunization (AEFI) resulting in few deaths has indeed raised great concerns about the safety aspects of the vaccines in use. Thus, the onus squarely rests on the health officials as well as the government to traverse the extra mile to not only allay fears of the general public about the efficacy of the vaccine but also influence them to shed their inhibitions to receive the elixir of life as quickly as is possible. Therefore, efforts undertaken to vaccinate can be easily scaled up by coopting the enormous private healthcare facilities spread across the length and breadth of the country without wasting precious time.
- Many big industrialists and health experts like Azim Premji and Dr. Devi Shetty have passionately argued to involve private healthcare infrastructure to quickly reach at least half of the population in the next two months. Dilly-dallying on the matter would place the lives and livelihood of millions in peril. It makes imminent sense to carry out joint efforts involving both public and private healthcare infrastructure to attain the intended objectives. Initiate suitable measures and with vigour now.
