First resolve all vaccine conundrums

First resolve all vaccine conundrums

Even as the national count of fresh Covid infections is trending down, there are localised increases in some parts of the country. The PM, in his interaction with chief ministers of the eight worst affected states, did well to warn against any relaxation in the ongoing pandemic vigil. Complacence in following and enforcing the precautions of mask-wearing, social distancing and washing of hands could lead to the equivalent of a boat getting away from the most treacherous part of the turbulent sea, only to capsize in the shallows, he said in a telling description.

Testing, tracing and treatment and quarantining, rather than ruinous lockdowns, provide the way ahead. The PM did well to ask the states to prepare the logistics of vaccine distribution as well. That would mean not just arranging refrigerated storage capacity of the requisite amount at every site of proposed delivery but also identifying the individual members of priority groups for vaccination.

Health workers are priority number one. Should that include the administrative staff at hospitals (the answer is yes because they interact with patients and their at-risk family members)? These kinds of niggles must be sorted out beforehand. Should those above 50 be categorised in terms of age and comorbidities? Those 65 and older with comorbidities are obviously more at risk than a sprightly 51year old. But should those in the age range 50-65 be further subdivided into those with comorbidities and those without? Are those aged between 50 and 65 and suffer from diabetes at greater risk and, therefore, deserving of vaccine priority, as compared to those above 65 but without comorbidities? Should the distribution of vaccine batches among states be based on population or the infection rate, so as to maximise the vaccine impact? The answers to such questions must be worked out in advance before the vaccine begins arriving.

The Prime Minister’s emphasis on federal cooperation in the battle against Covid must be welcomed in good faith by all state governments.