Congrats, UAE

Compliments to the UAE for commencing COVID-19 vaccinations (UAE starts world’s first ever COVID-19, Sept 19, Gulf Today).  COVID-19 has brought the whole world to its knees. Everyone is waiting for the vaccine to be discovered and finalised. It is brave of Mr. Abdulrahman Bin Mohamed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention and Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs, to take the first vaccine. He has shown leadership. Congratulations, Sir.

We need to be certain that any vaccine disseminated is absolutely safe and has no side-effects. The Health Authorities should thoroughly review the selected vaccines and disseminate them, only after all trials are completed and the vaccine is absolutely safe. Another challenge confronting developing countries with large rural populations is the transportation of the vaccines, in frozen or semi-frozen states, to small villages, with a population of 500 or even less.  Of the total 6,64,369 villages in India, 25.5 percent, which is 2,36,004 villages, have a population less than 500. It will be challenge to transport the vaccine to such villages.

Companies which operate cold chains and are engaged in products like frozen foods and ice-creams, can study the logistics and make suggestions. Health authorities can also deploy cold vans, with freezers, to transport the vaccines to remote areas. The planning for these challenges should commence right now. We should not be caught unaware, as happened when COVID-19 spread voraciously across national boundaries and the world ground to a halt.

Rajendra Aneja — Mumbai, India