AN ANNOUNCEMENT BY pharma giant Pfizer on November 9 was the first time in a long while that the world saw light at the end of what has seemed an endless, miserable tunnel. The first to end the Phase 3 trial for its Covid vaccine candidate, Pfizer indicated the efficacy of 90 per cent for ‘BNT162b2’. Almost immediately after, three other vaccine candidates— developed by Moderna, Russia’s Gamaleya Institute, and AstraZeneca-Oxford—announced interim results, all indicating above 90 per cent efficacy. A Covid vaccine was suddenly not some distant dream, it seemed like a reality well within the world’s grasp. Upon hearing Pfizer’s news, 80-year-old Prathamesh Kumar, who hasn’t stepped out of his Delhi apartment in eight months, wept. “If a vaccine is made available, I would take it without a second thought,” says Kumar, who, with just his live-in nurse for company, has been unable to see his family, go for walks or attend his great grandson’s first birthday. “For the sake of my children, I have stayed indoors, but it is like being half-alive.” There are millions like Kumar, across age, gender, and background, who are eagerly awaiting a vaccine.
This story is from the December 14, 2020 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 14, 2020 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Reimagined
The dual personalities of the 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe make it even more desirable
BJP's Big Paschim Test
On paper, the BJP-RLD tie-up is a winner for the NDA in west UP, though the INDIA bloc thinks otherwise. The BSP's entry with mixed candidates can unsettle both alliances
Why Gen V Matters
The Way The 210 Million-Strong Generation Viksit Bharat Casts Its Vote Will Determine The Outcome Of This Election As It Has In The Past
Heart Stopper
Cushions with tales of beauty, serenity, art and nature
THE NIPPON NARRATIVE
Say konnichiwa to good design and sayōnara to bad aesthetics, as this apartment in Bangalore is a lesson in how to use Japanese design effectively
RURAL RESPLENDENCE
This second home in a small village in Uttar Pradesh brings to life the beauty and simplicity of locally sourced materials
Curves in the Right Places
Arches may be taking over interior design, but how and where you place them in your home can make or mar the look of the room
Marvels in Mud
Here's how this humble material is changing the way we look at eco-friendly homes in India
DESIGN FOR THE AGES
Five homes, five distinct design styles that help decode how to curate age-appropriate spaces
TAKE FIVE
FROM RUGS TO CUSHIONS, THESE DECOR PIECES WILL GIVE YOUR INTERIORS AN INSTANT MAKEOVER THIS SEASON