India’s disaster is harrowing proof that none of us is safe until we all are

India’s giant second wave is a disaster, not just fort he country but the whole world. It is a reminder to us all that this pandemic is relentless and knows no bounds. It has been deeply distressing to see the world’s largest vaccine producer struggle so severely. With daily rates exceeding 350,000, the deadly second wave caught India off guard, particularly for such a vast country with deep embedded complexities.

The harrowing scenes of hospitals full to the brim, people struggling to secure oxygen and the pressures on crematoriums were very hard to acknowledge. But the recent outbreak is not just India’s problem. An immediate consequence has been a sharp disruption to the global supply of vaccines – even for us. Ninety-two countries who were depending on India have also had to urgently address their own Covid-19 plans now that promised doses will be used for India’s population.

Perhaps more worrying is the emergence of India’s own Covid variant which poses an exponential threat to our global response. The variant is mutating and been identified in 10 countries, including the US and Britain. Another reminder that no one is safe until everyone is safe.

Whilst it is very easy to be critical of the Indian government’s response to the pandemic, one should not forget that with a population of more than 1.4 billion it would be a mounting challenge for any healthcare system in the world to deal with the Covid-19 cases that are being experienced.

Up until now, India was leading the fight against the pandemic, having done remarkably well in addressing and slowing the first wave of the disease.

This is a timely opportunity for us all to remember just how much India has done for the world in our battle against the coronavirus.

India has been the world’s pharmacy and provided 60 per cent of the vaccines, exporting them to more than 100 countries including to us here in the UK.

This was at a time when India was also providing us with PPE and even paracetamols during our severe first wave last year.

India and the UK have a great shared history. This new chapter in the pandemic is yet another example of our invaluable partnership. On all fronts, India’s problem is our problem and we must tackle this together.