Why In Decisive Fight Against The Virus, India Must Not Lower Its Guard
India’s fightback against the Virus has been spirited, united and decisive.
After the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic surprised one and all with its suddenness and ferocity, causing deaths and devastation, India has responded remarkably well, and under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s inspirational leadership, rallied its citizens, scientific community, pharma industry, local communities and states, setting an example for the world in undertaking the largest, fastest nationwide vaccination drive.
According to government statistics, as on November 21, more than 116.5 crore vaccines had been administered. Its active caseload stood lowest in 532 days. More than 130 crore vaccine doses have been provided to States and Union territories. More than 22.70 crore balance and unutilized vaccine doses are still available with them.
As India’s economy stages a smart recovery, and the country gets back to a near-normal pre-pandemic way of life, with people getting back to work, public transport systems operating at near-full capacities, malls, restaurants and theatres buzzing with activity, there are lessons to be drawn from a resurgence of cases in parts of the world, with some even fearing a fifth wave of pandemic.
For instance, Austria got into a national lockdown last week. Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said that vaccinations were being made mandatory for the entire eligible population.
Ireland, which has a vaccination coverage rate of 89.1 per cent, has had to announce a midnight curfew for the hospitality industry, including bars, restaurants and nightclubs.
A CNN report dated November 20 observed: “As nations are discovering, even a relatively strong vaccination rate is not enough to stop the spread of Covid-19. Warning signals from Germany and Austria, where infections have skyrocketed in recent weeks, show the dangers of complacency”.
The same report cited Spain as an example which had managed to avoid the worst of the current wave because, as one expert was quoted in the report, “Spanish people have been particularly careful regarding restriction measures, mostly the generalized use of face masks and (social) distance”.
The report quoted Professor Charles Bangham, a professor of immunology and co-director of Imperial College London’s Institute of Infection, as saying: “The vaccine continues to provide very good protection; the immunity against severe disease and death is very well maintained… (but) at the same time, there have been changes in society and behavior… and in many countries, some of the precautions are being less stringently observed”.
Meanwhile, a high death toll in Russia has caused concern. Reports say that only about 40 percent of Russia’s population have been fully vaccinated even though it was one of the first countries to develop a domestically-developed vaccine. Slovakia, a country of 5.5 million, reported its biggest daily Covid cases since the beginning of the pandemic on Friday, last week.
The examples cited above are only a snapshot of the challenges that various parts of the world are facing in taming the Virus.
India has done well and its total caseload is one of the lowest in recent memory, but there is no reason to turn complacent. Recall for instance, how even the US, after having decided to celebrate July 4 as the “Independence Day from virus” had to learn its lessons the hard way. Some localized pockets in India have already reported a spike in cases.
The “Har Ghar Dastak” campaign, rolled out on November 3 by PM Modi, hopes to make a difference in India’s quest for universal vaccination of its entire eligible population by the year-end. ICMR’s Head of Epidemiology & Communicable Diseases Divisions, Dr Samiran Panda, has been quoted by ANI on November 21 that “reaching out to over 80 per cent of eligible individuals is public health priority now”. States and local administrations’ role remains important.
While India’s national vaccination drive has been hailed for its innovation, Team India spirit, and popular participation, there are a few areas that require attention.
In his pronouncements, the PM has always stressed on “Dawai bhi, Kadai bhi”. There have been calls for Covid-appropriate behavior from multiple quarters. The Union Health Ministry’s campaign on the subject has been an ongoing one, and the Minister himself has been pro-active.
Yet, on ground, we, the people of India, are not exactly exemplars of Covid-appropriate behavior. In May, a Health Ministry official, during a briefing, had cited a study which said “50 per cent of the people did not wear masks”. It’s debatable if things have changed substantially. Three weeks ago, this writer travelled in the Hindi heartland, and only a minuscule percentage of the people were seen using masks.
India has invested a lot in its fight against the Virus. Both lives and livelihoods matter. In the last year or two, we have learnt vital lessons on how to deal with the mutating, unpredictable Virus. It’s extremely important, however, that we adhere to various all Covid protocols, all the time. It’s important that the common people, communities, civil society and popular media campaign for Covid-appropriate behavior with renewed vigour. In the last, decisive, lap in fight against the Virus, India must not lower its guard.
(The writer, a JNU alumnus, is a political analyst. Views are personal)
