Though India is probably in a better place now than it was during the first and second waves of COVID-19, as individuals we still need to take all precautions, despite many state governments removing the mandatory mask rule.
Yes, the death rate is decreasing, but the virus is still spreading and it is affecting the young and elderly, who don’t have the immunity to fight it. Sadly, many people have stopped testing and this has reduced the data that was being generated and helping experts predict the virus’ next move. Without this data, it is nearly impossible to understand the long-term implications and bodily changes in people who have survived the infection.
Meanwhile, the government is considering reducing the gap between the last vaccine dose and booster dose from nine months to six months. Even as it does this, certain states still do not have enough booster doses for their citizens. What’s worse, there is still a small percentage of the Indian population that belongs to the anti-vaccine brigade; these people haven’t taken even their first does of the COVID-19 vaccine yet! In a meeting with the heads of all the districts in the state, Maharashtra’s chief minister Uddhav Thackeray suggested he would urge the central government to make vaccination compulsory. How would you compel those who are resistant to vaccination to get their shots? Send us your comments at [email protected]
