INDIANISATION, NOT PFIZERISATION

Pfizer's vaccines were a non-starter in India because of their illogical legal waiver demands, their need for super-cold storage (-60 to-80 degrees C) and transportation infrastructure and prohibitive costs.

- DR SANJEEV BAGAI

Covid-19, the dreadful pandemic, was a frontal attack on humanity, an unprecedented surge, devastating lives like never seen in our living memory. The deep impact of Covid-19 left the world in a suspended state of animation, frozen, surrounded with fear, grief and untold uncertainty, changing our lives, for many, forever. It's been horrific, the global carnage, the world entered into an unknown, bizarre script. Yet India has done well, and we have risen as a nation. At the same time, a new type of reflection has set in, about how our collective experience during this pandemic will and should change our world in the future.

It's certain that the Covid-19 crisis will significantly change the healthcare system itself, in particular-it will serve as a catalyst in developing more effective, efficient and, above all, more humane medicine.

The Indian government, which set correct formats first, based on data, facts, science, became a beacon on how to get the format right to combat this pandemic.

HOW INDIA SUCCEEDED

1. To initiate the early lockdown on 24 March 2020 was strategic but was not prolonged. This enabled India to develop community acquired immunity or herd immunity, which translated into hybrid immunity (past vaccination plus past exposure to infection). Worldwide data shows that hybrid immunity is far superior to even a triple vaccinated individual. Every exposure, however, subtle and even to other respiratory viral infections gives a boost of crossreactive immunity. Every 10% increase in society's immunization gives a similar corresponding increase in herd immunity.

2. Successful vaccination campaign with the protection of the elderly and the co-morbids first.

3. Used time tested platforms of cost effective and efficacious adeno vector vaccines of the inactivated type.

4. Early diagnosis, good testing, adequate isolation and community surveillance.