UK started mass vaccination of its citizens against the coronavirus a few days ago, becoming the first western country to do so. UK is also the first country to have approved the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine, ahead of the country of its development, USA. A few days later, US FDA gave approval for emergency use of the vaccine. Canada, too, approved the vaccine.
Ninety year old Margaret Keenan became the first woman in the world to be vaccinated with it after the approval of the vaccine in UK, with William Shakespeare becoming the second person to be so vaccinated. This news came as a relief to a global population that has been kept under siege by the dreaded virus for almost one year.
UK was amongst the early victims of this virus. It also saw some high profile Covid-19 warriors in the initial phase. Prime Minister Boris Johnson suffered from the virus around the same time as Prince Charles and Health Secretary Matt Hancock. Like some other countries, UK imposed a widespread lockdown in March 2020. As the virus seemed to have been brought somewhat under control, and the country started opening up, people relaxed their vigil and came out to enjoy a freedom that had to be denied for weeks on end. It didn’t take long for the virus to sting again and UK went through a second wave, followed by a second lockdown!
This experience is not unique to UK alone. Several countries in Europe also went through a revival of the infection, as the virus continued to rage in the US, and Melbourne went through a long and strict lockdown. In India, the opening up was done in stages, but the festive season in October-November, saw caution being thrown to the winds and we witnessed, what is being described as a third wave!
The enormous sense of relief, bordering on euphoria, unleashed by the vaccination campaign can be explained somewhat by the above backdrop. The successful start of the vaccination process, has generated hope that our suffering is finally behind us. It seems that the human brain and scientific acumen has finally defeated the virus. One feels a sense of release. Our frustration at being confined for so long has convinced us that we can step out and begin living a normal life again.
We would do well to remember that a cure for Covid-19 is still out of our grasp and that people falling to the coronavirus are still losing the fight in big numbers. Globally, so far, around 70 million cases and over 1.5 million deaths have been reported by WHO data. Vaccine notwithstanding, we are still some way off from putting the virus behind us. That is not to say that we shouldn’t be overjoyed by the start of the vaccination process, but it is good to remind oneself that vaccination is hopefully the beginning of the end. We have to wait to see the end of the virus.
Covid-19 has left a lot of fear and trauma in its wake. Being careful does not equate with fear. Not everyone who gets the virus lands up in a hospital. As we all know now, a majority of the cases are cured at home with only some displaying the symptoms of severe pneumonia. Doctors also know more about this virus now than they did at the beginning of the year. Yet, this virus remains a mystery in many of its facets. We hope that the vaccine will provide long term immunity, but how long the vaccine induced immunity will last, remains to be seen.
Now that we are so close to victory over this virus, let us not lose patience. Let us continue to follow the precautions that have been drilled into our minds repeatedly over the last several months: Wear a mask, Keep your distance, and Wash (or sanitise) your hands regularly! I am trying to remind myself of these life saving measures every day, are you?
