Covid Will Always Be With Us As An Endemic Mate.
Similar to how the influenza virus has persisted and every time a new version appears, individuals feel cough, fever, etc., but do not suffer significant harm, the Covid virus will do the same.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya stated that COVID-19 is on the verge of becoming endemic; however, Indian experts closely monitor each new variety, and the government will maintain a high alert. He emphasised that the virus has managed to survive and will remain. After more than three years of one of the deadliest pandemics to ever strike the planet, the Minister stated that the situation is currently calm, but all essential precautions will still be taken to protect against any variety that would prove to be fatal.
While the first case in India was announced towards the end of January 2020, the deadly virus was initially discovered in China at the end of 2019. Since then, India has reported about 4.5 crore positive cases, and more than 5 lakh people have perished throughout numerous waves. However, the caseload has drastically decreased recently, and there are currently just approximately 1,800 ongoing cases, with a near-99.9% overall recovery rate and a 1% death rate. Additionally, more than 220 crore doses of the Covid vaccination have been given in India, with nearly 90% of the eligible population receiving all recommended doses.
How is Covid on the verge of becoming endemic?
Similar to how the influenza virus has persisted and every time a new version appears, individuals feel cough, fever, etc., but do not suffer significant harm, the Covid virus will do the same. Experts claim that disease is endemic when it consistently affects a population within a specific geographic region based on well-established patterns, as with seasonal influenza.
Opinions of Covid as an endemic by WHO.
However, the opinions of global leaders in healthcare, the WHO did not declare Covid endemic in its announcement last month, which stated that it was now “the established and ongoing health issue which no longer demands a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC)”.
According to Mandaviya, who took over the health ministry in the midst of the coronavirus crisis in July 2021, managing the pandemic was a significant challenge for a large and diverse nation like India, but its success story has now become an inspiration for the entire world. As the Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers, a position he has held for much longer, he is also in charge of the pharmaceutical division. He also denied claims that vaccine approvals were hurried without considering long-term side effects and that this may have contributed to the recent spike in heart attacks. He insisted that the entire process, from vaccine research to administration, adhered to all recognised international standards.
As per the statements of the Minister, prior physical and manual methods meant that the creation and licencing of vaccines took considerably longer. However, this time, the government and scientists made full use of the most recent technologies, including artificial intelligence, allowing the entire process to go forward much more quickly.
Kudos to the MODI government.
A BJP politician from Gujarat, Mandaviya, said that it was the prime Minister’s directive that led to the establishment of INSACOG (the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium) and several other task forces and empowered groups for the approval of vaccines and other procedures. They employed scientific methods throughout the whole Covid journey to combat this pandemic.
When the vaccinations should be approved, scientists advised them, and all data and data analysis followed worldwide standards. India adhered to the same international norms as major corporations. The Minister claimed that while everything does move quickly in India, people who are critical of the pace must comprehend why the clearances were granted so quickly.
Since India now has artificial intelligence, the most up-to-date modelling techniques, and digital technology, it is necessary to speed things up by using all these. Previously, data would be acquired, their physical analysis would occur, and many operations would happen manually.
Conclusion.
India used the same procedures as other countries regarding Covid vaccine development and approval. Since they not only rescued India but also helped save the rest of the globe, India’s vaccinations are today recognised as the greatest in the world. There are now five Indian-designed and -produced vaccinations available on the market. India can guarantee that the immunisation journey has been based on scientific evidence and has adhered to all scientific standards and methodologies. It is a good thing India is identified on the global platform as a helping hand to the rest of the globe.
