Standing on the penultimate day of the full first half of 2021 which has seen tales of sorrow of epical proportions, for any ordinary citizen, it must be a queer mix of both optimism and apprehension. Optimism, since daily Covid caseloads have fallen below 50,000 and if Sunday’s casualty toll is any indication, it’s not a distant possibility that it will remain confined within the below-1000 mark. These are the ‘reliefs’ an average citizen desperately waits for in the prevailing Covid environment. The country got a full five and a half months which was more than enough to vaccinate at least half of its eligible population. It has been a Himalayan blunder and since the people are well-acquainted with the reasons, a further ‘dissection’ is unnecessary. And despite 88+ lakh inoculations on June 21 and an average of 60 lakh daily thereafter, it will be a hard task to reach herd immunity unless the ‘magic figure’ of 1 cr daily vaccinations is ensured. India’s Covid situation is unique compared to most other countries since the population size is mind-boggling and the number of doses administered carry not much significance. It’s the coverage percentage that matters and the light that falls on it is rather faint or far between.
It can be recalled that the country started the year with a full confidence that Covid 1.0 has been overwhelmed. In no time the confidence graduated into overconfidence and there was a virtual competition between citizens and the government in its display- who is the better exponent. On citizens’ part, masks, sanitizers and social distancing became optional and the one and only savior, the vaccines were sent overseas, either by  way of exports or grants- with the sole intention of establishing India as a global vaccine superpower. There was also a complete disregard of the impending 2nd wave, warned repeatedly by the medical fraternity and how many thousands of people expired just due to want of medical oxygen supply will need an Enquiry Commission. The only ray of hope, however, has been the activeness of the Supreme Court. Compelled by this ‘chase’ perhaps, extraordinary ‘revisions’ in terms of projected vaccine availability by December end are taking place. On May 13 it was proudly announced by the Centre that 216 cr of doses will be available between August-December which will be more than enough to vaccinate all adults. The new affidavit at the SC on Saturday says that it’s 188 cr and not 216 cr. Time will tell where this ‘curtailment’ finally ends.
For the next 184 days starting July 1, it’s entirely on the speed of vaccination that the lives and livelihoods of the people will hinge. Hope that arrives soon.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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