After more than six months of battle against Covid-19, among the many findings about the virus, its deadly contagious capability is a major one. In this context, the WHO statement on Monday that one in ten people globally may have been infected by the coronavirus by now will add a further layer of anxiety. If this is the picture even after strict regimentation which is now being called as ‘new normal’, it’s the vaccine that is perhaps the last hope for mankind. Just like the vaccine making process which has picked up momentum, countries across the world are now engrossed in devising blueprints of the inoculation process and Japan in a major policy decision has announced that all its citizens will be given a dose for free. This is an example of commitment to social responsibility worth emulating and it needs to be seen how many among the nations currently tormented by the pandemic, including India follow suit.

If the WHO assessment which has been termed as “best estimate” is translated into figures, it implies that more than 760 million people based on current world population of about 7.6 billion have been infected already. This is far more than the current documented figure which is around 35 million. Although this estimate is apparently unbelievable, it cannot be ignored since it has come from  WHO. In another way, it is a reminder of the indispensability of vaccination in the approaching months. Various deadlines are doing the rounds and in all probability the actual process will commence not later than early 2021. The Union Health Ministry has promised that a realistic roadmap is in the making for Covid-19 vaccine distribution and within July 2021, the country  will receive and utilise 400-500 million doses for  a targeted 20 -25 crore people. From the initial disclosures, it can be anticipated that the process will involve a phased pattern and 1.3-billion population will not be vaccinated in one go. It is here a difficult task awaits since it will be a matter of judicious choice regarding whom to vaccinate first. Clearly, it will be the  frontline Covid warriors such as doctors, nurses, healthcare staff, ASHA workers etc who will receive the first shots. Even if it is much hazy regarding the  real-term effectiveness of  the vaccine, there  has been an unanimity in the health fraternity that at least  60-70% of India’s population  must be brought under immunisation  to have the most-positive effect, which is otherwise known as herd immunity.

 

The Union Health Ministry, while thinking seriously to make the vaccine free, must also prepare a proper roadmap that will encompass the remotest corners of the Northeast including Arunachal Pradesh.

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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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