Dr KK Aggarwal

Images of breathless people scrambling to hospitals have shocked the nation. As the macabre dance of death continues, what is obvious is the lack of planning in every sphere by our bumbling governments.

While the manufacturer of Covaxin got itself in a jam with Brazil following an inspection of its Hyderabad facility, AstraZeneca’s vaccine was put on hold in several nations after reports of blood clots. How safe are these vaccines?

At this rate of resurgence of cases, India may soon overtake Brazil to re-claim its second place in the list of most-affected countries. Which are the states where cases are rising fastest and why?

The emergence of new variants has made vaccination and Covid-appropriate behaviour all the more imperative. The second wave will be more transmissible than the first, but may not last long.

The Covid-19 vaccine drive is not moving at the pace envisaged by the government. Vaccine wastage is a major concern and averages 6.5% in India. This can be avoided by thinking and planning smartly

The selective way in which the government is vaccinating the population came in for stricture from the Delhi High Court which asked it to explain why it was keeping such “strict control” over the process.

The recent spike in cases is ample evidence that the SARS-CoV-2 virus has mutated. This, along with the lack of Covid-19 appropriate behaviour, has led to increased cases. Vaccination could stem that.

In the spirit of collaboration, the prime minister has suggested a special visa scheme for Indian doctors and nurses so that they can travel quickly within the sub-continent to help with the pandemic as well as a regional air ambulance.

By Dr KK Aggarwal The...

Even as many nations are battling the deadly pandemic, India, a world leader in health, has lent a helping hand by exporting vaccines to them. This diplomatic move could also help in medical tourism.