MAIN TOPIC: “The question of COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution”

In the situation of a life-changing pandemic, what is worth praising is the sympathy and compassionate nature of countries and individuals from around the world. We have witnessed

• –  Developing countries like India providing vaccines and masks to underdeveloped countries,
• –  Neighboring countries helping each other cope up with the initial outbreak
• –  countless seminars and trials, that brought the world medical community together being held

• The takeaway from these situations is that the only feasible solution to this pandemic is togetherness and collaboration.

  With growing variants and consecutively, lesser medical assistance, the WHO has stepped up to provide daily reports and statistical data on the cases’ demographics, vaccines and variants. Most of the countries have delicately designed vaccines for age-specific groups. However, here is the divide. Whilst countries like the USA have procured vaccines for even five year olds, only 0.7% of doses have been administered in low-income countries. The COVID-19 vaccine industry is booming, however, it seems that it tends to make the rich richer and the poor poorer.

  Any country’s economy depends on its population’s medical and educational luxuries. Not only is the current infodemic making the situation worse, but is also ensuring that rumors curtail responsible individuals from taking any preventive measures. What the world needs right now are targeted studies to understand the pattern of infections in people, their response to COVID before and after administering the vaccine, and how the vaccine in itself is a potential catalyst for deadlier variants. What many vaccine makers have ignored is that the virus mutates itself because of the vaccine in the body, and does not stop itself.

  Let’s hope that we find a mutant-free vaccine and an affordable and efficient solution for all!

  In this unprecedented time, we are witnessing that Science coupled with focused public spending or guaranteed demand for billions of vaccines has produced multiple breakthroughs in record time compared to the typical 12 to 18 months it takes to develop a new vaccine. This rapid vaccine development capability should not be disbanded once COVID-19 is contained, especially as many developing countries will rely on coordinated international assistance to contain domestic outbreaks and prevent mutations from leaping over national borders. COVID-19 bears many similarities to other global threats, such as climate change, severe income inequality and societal polarization. Like COVID- 19, responding to these threats will require a societal approach, tradeoffs across the public and private lines and trusted public leadership that people will follow.