Government’s vaccination effort comes for praise, but most believe we should be wary of virus
A resident of Noida prepares to take a booster dose; (Photo: AFP)
heyn April 14, India’s seven-day average of new Covid cases was back two years ago in April 2020 – a promising low of 975. After the Omicron wave in January, it is clear that the virus is nowhere near replicating in numbers. Seen in 2021 and 2020. This is in large part due to the government’s highly successful immunization program, as part of which more than 2 billion doses of vaccines have been given over 18 months.
It is not just the number of doses injected, India’s immunization program has also worked towards improving the efficacy and accessibility of vaccines. After a booster dose has been made available to all adults, the gap is reduced to six months and a different vaccine may be administered to improve efficacy. Vaccination of 12 to 18 year olds has started and for 5 to 12 year olds vaccines will be introduced soon.
Strengthened by additional immunity from vaccines, India did not see the number of cases or deaths that shook the US, UK and mainland Europe, despite the advent of highly infectious new Omron sub-variants – BA.4, BA.5, BA . 2.38. and B.A.2.12.1. On 9 August, India reported nearly 16,000 new cases compared to 135,412 in the US. The MOTN survey shows that the government’s COVID efforts have gone unnoticed – nearly 68 percent approve of tackling COVID, compared to 66 percent in January; 42.5 per cent consider it arrears, which is the highest percentage ever.
That said, there is no room for complacency. Even though cases in India are not rising as fast as they are in the West, six states—Delhi, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Telangana—are showing an increase in the number of new cases daily. The significantly more transmissible subtypes of oomicrons suggest that the virus is mutating to survive and overcome the immunity acquired against it. The government is concerned about the possibility of new variants, if the booster is not taken on time and the upcoming festive season leading to decreased immunity which could accelerate the transmission of the virus. An advisory has been sent to states to improve testing, number of boosters given and go back to COVID-appropriate norms. Public support is crucial in keeping a watch against the virus. Encouragingly, 65.7 per cent said the pandemic may not be as dangerous as before, but we need to be careful, with 20.1 per cent believing that the threat has not diminished at all. Only 11.5 per cent felt that Covid is no longer a threat and we can come back to life as we knew it before Covid.