Don’t shift goalposts, meet jab deadlines

Reports of the Delta plus variant of SARS-CoV-2 virus, declared a variant of concern by the Union government, have become a new threat here in India and the world over at a time when it looked like the worst is over for this country caught in the second wave of

Covid-19. The government has cautioned eight states about the urgent need to take precautionary measures against the spread of the variant, which is stated to have increased transmissibility, stronger binding to receptors of lung cells and potential reduction in monoclonal antibody response. As of now, there are 50-odd cases and four deaths that have been attributed to the variant. Given its potential to spread at a faster rate, no amount of caution looks excessive.

A disturbing feature of the mutant virus that experts fear it possesses is its ability to resist medical intervention such as vaccination and treatment. With only 19.2 per cent of the population receiving at least one dose and only four per cent fully vaccinated, and with a proven inadequacy of medical infrastructure to withstand a major surge, India has reasons to remain alert. The government has asked states to implement the Covid-appropriate protocol more vigorously and be careful when it comes to allowing more relaxations.

All experts are in agreement saying that the way out of the mess is to speed up the vaccination programme before more mutants appear. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who reviewed the drive the other day, has directed officials to maintain the momentum it has got of late. India had vaccinated a record 89 lakh people last Monday but the numbers slipped in the following days. As per the affidavit the Union government filed in the Supreme Court, a total of 35.6 crore doses of the Covid vaccines have been made available by now. It has also estimated that the country will require 186 crore doses to fully vaccinate all eligible people above 18. The government, which launched the “world’s largest vaccination drive” in January, has, for the first time, given the apex court a sneak peek into its procurement plan for the vaccines — 51.6 crore doses will be made available by July 31. As for the remaining 135 crore doses, the two Indian manufacturers together will offer 90 crore doses and the imported Russian vaccine will chip in with another 10 crore. The vaccines in the pipeline by Biological E. (30 crore) and Zydus Cadila

(5 crore) will make up the rest.

The government has been able to cobble up a procurement plan but how far the people can rely on it depends on the determination with which it pursues its targets. The government, which had told the Supreme Court that domestic manufacturing of the vaccines would be substantially increased by July, has, in a subsequent note, said it will happen only by October. This wavering is unacceptable. The government needs to pull up its socks and ensure that the milestones it has marked will be covered in time. Excuses hardly offer immunity against the deadly virus.

The government has been able to cobble up a procurement plan but all depends on the determination with which it pursues its targets