GAME-CHANGER

The launch of the single jab COVID-19 vaccine from Johnson and Johnson will be real game-changer in the fight against the disease. Companies like Pfizers, Astrazeneca, Johnsons have rendered great service to mankind, by delivering vaccines to the world in less than a year. Normally, it takes years to finalise a vaccine. Granted, that these companies will earn some revenues and profits, through the sales of the vaccines. Nevertheless, governments should also reward and appreciate these companies, through recognitions and awards.

President Biden has done well to enable a production deal between Johnson & Johnson and Merck. Merck will now produce vaccines for Johnson, which will ensure augmented availability in the US. The country is planning to inoculate all adults by May 2021, two month ahead of the earlier schedule.

In Latin America, Cuba is finalising trials with two vaccines. It has planned a production of 100 million does in the year, 80 per cent of which would be exported, providing some relief to Latino countries. Cuba is also experimenting with a vaccine, which is administered as a nasal spray. If this works, then it solves massive logistical and distribution issues. The nasal spray could be sold via chemists and pharmacies. Ordinary citizens could buy it and vaccinate themselves.

India has also done well, to permit private hospitals to commence vaccinations. Though many of them are yet galvanising, it will accelerate the vaccinations, when they come on board. Ater starting vaccinations on 16 January 2021, in seven weeks India has vaccinated about 1.5 million people. The plan is to vaccinate 300 million citizens by end July. To meet this target, India should be vaccination in 11.5 million people every week. So, India should have vaccinated about 80 million people by now. Health authorities should permits sales of vaccines from the Municipal Corporations and, ater proper scrutiny, to private doctors too, who can vaccinate patients at their clinics. Rajendra Aneja

Mumbai, India