VACCINE DELIVERY

This is with reference to the feature, “A closer look at partnerships in vaccine production” (Feb. 25). Besides augmenting the production of vaccines, we also need to improve the delivery of the vaccines to people.

For the last 11 months many of us are homebound. We are unable to stir out, even for small errands for fear of geting infected. Our lives have become drab. However much we try to enliven the situation, by working from home, the fact is that as human beings we need to interact with people and travel to acquire new learnings. Our incomes are also hit. How much can anyone work from home? The cash flows take a serious blow. How long can people live on savings? In developing countries, governments are not issuing cheques or depositing moneys in the accounts of common citizens.

The enforced social isolation also leads to psychological and health issues. People become short-tempered and irritable.

The stress of being marooned at home with reduced incomes is also compounded by the uncertainty of when we will be able to access a vaccine. Whilst vaccine manufactures say there is no shortage of the miracle potion, the hospitals do not have it. These anomalies are difficult to reconcile. Rapid vaccination of all citizens should be the number one priority of all nations.

We also need to understand how long the effect of the vaccination will last. Some manufacturers have said that we will need to take the jab annually. If this is so, nations will have to start forecasting their requirements of jabs, for the next five years. It will also be necessary to undertake a review of global production capabilities. It would be provident for African countries to be self-sufficient in vaccines and establish production facilities in Nigeria or Kenya. In the current scramble for vaccines, African countries are let standing last in the queue.

Rajendra Aneja Mumbai, India