If All Indians Are Not Vaccinated Soon There Could Be A Third Wave Of COVID-19 Later This Year
Eminent cardiologist and director of the Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, C N Manjunath said who in November 2020 predicted the arrival of the second wave of COVID in March or April based on the pattern of spread and resurgence in Europe said that the vaccination drive should be completed by October before the possible third wave hits the nation.
India is in the grip of a devastating second wave of COVID-19 and has been reporting over three lakh new cases in a day for weeks now.
These are the highest number of COVID-19 infections reported anywhere in the world so far and no one knows exactly when the infection rate will start falling.
As devastating as the second wave of the pandemic is, what if there is a third wave? Though it might sound alarmist experts are already warning that the threat of a third wave of COVID-19 in India is very much real.
India is currently rolling out COVID-19 vaccines to all adults with an aim to achieve herd immunity against the virus.
BCCL
But viruses mutate over time and can adapt to escape the existing vaccines, making them deadlier.
Vaccination still has a long road ahead
The vaccine rollout in India that began in late January is yet to reach a significant portion of the population. Even with the widening of the rollout, which is unequal, it will take a long time before everyone in the country gets vaccinated.
This, according to experts, is a recipe for disaster.
Reuters
Eminent cardiologist and director of the Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, C N Manjunath who in November 2020 predicted the arrival of the second wave of COVID in March or April based on the pattern of spread and resurgence in Europe said that the vaccination drive should be completed by October before the possible third wave hits the nation.
"Vaccination should go on. By October- November the entire country should be vaccinated. Otherwise, we are in for a rude shock again," Manjunath said.
BCCL
On Thursday, Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope said that the state may witness a third wave of the infection in July-August.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday asked the district administrations across Maharashtra to immediately set up their oxygen projects and to ensure stocks of essential medicines are maintained and asserted that the state government has to be very careful and plan for the "third wave".
"Though the number of patients has stabilised to some extent due to strict restrictions in the state, now we have to be very careful and plan for the next third wave," said Thackeray.
Bobins Abraham is the Assistant News Editor at Indiatimes. He has more than twelve years of experience in TV and digital journalism. An avid student of history and geopolitics, he is a conservationist and environmentalist at heart. He writes on environment, sustainability, human-animal conflict and more.
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