Planning Minister Asad Umar, who also heads the NCOC, has expressed fears of a fourth wave of coronavirus breaking out the next month if the general public fails to follow the SOPs aimed at preventing Covid-19. His fears are not unfounded considering the recent increase in cases partially due to the highly contagious Delta variant of the disease in many countries. Most of these countries are highly inoculated. Predictions for the near future too give a bleak picture.
According to the WHO, the Delta variant is now present in nearly 85 countries with scientists predicting a further rise in cases even in advanced countries such as the US and EU states. This more contagious variant was first detected in India in April. Scientists consider the Delta variant 40%-60% and some of them even more contagious than the strain that caused the first wave which began in February last year. This variant has led many countries, which had earlier controlled the pandemic by putting in place restrictions, to re-impose curbs with stricter enforcement. In light of the surge in cases of the Delta variant, experts have called for speeding up the process of vaccination. Recent data from the British government shows that full immunisation, two doses of vaccine, provides satisfactory protection from the Delta variant.
The havoc that the Delta variant caused in next-door India should make us realise the vital importance of getting ourselves vaccinated. This will protect both individuals and the society considering the contagious nature of Covid-19, especially in view of the emergence of more dangerous strains of the pandemic disease. However, the ordinary people have doubts, fuelled by baseless rumours, about vaccines. The government does not seem to be taking effective steps to remove the unfounded suspicions, to resolve the issue of hesitancy. Further, making SMS mandatory and linking the vaccination process to NADRA database is impracticable as a sizable number of people in the country cannot operate mobile phones due to being unlettered.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 27th, 2021.
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