By: Asem Mustafa Awan
The plane has landed and it has brought in the precious life-saving vaccine which is the only hope to curtail the virus which has played havoc globally.
Pakistan got its vaccine from China and more is promised. The need of the hour is to do the required research in curbing the virus that has claimed lives all over the world.
The divide is combating the virus has also been very clear while developed countries are all out in protecting their citizens and poor countries are yet to get their share of the vaccine which is developed by the rich countries that have the allied infrastructure.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) headed by Tedros Adhanom has made an appeal to the rich countries for equal distribution of the vaccine as virus can kill anyone.
There are many who mourn the deaths of their loved ones and now is the time the world should stand together in uprooting the cause which has caused grief.
Pakistan got its vaccine late owing to paucity of funds but it is still not too late. The government of Pakistan should come up with the mechanism as how it should be stored and later administered.
There have been views from the high echelons that the vaccine will be given firstly to the people who are facing and fighting the virus at the front line namely the medical staff.
Pakistan while combating the virus has lost many a doctors and paramedic staff and their sacrifices are not going unnoticed.
The need of the hour is to make masses realise that the coronavirus is here to stay and the world as might learn to live with it.
Government of Pakistan has timely initiated multiple strategies but it will take a while for the whole nation to get vaccinated.
The have and have not of the world with the clear division has raised a concern and visibly people are not happy with their respective governments for leaving their people in the lurch.
This pandemic has also exposed health systems of the countries and their preparedness and Pakistan while facing the pandemic was able to pin point its shortcomings.
The total number of ventilators, supply of oxygen bottles, provision of masks, sanitizers and gloves everything was taken into account and unlike the first wave of the pandemic, nation now stands more prepared and more resilient.
The world at present is now facing the second wave the second strand of virus is more lethal as compared to the first category and is showing resistance to the test.
The world after conducting many tests in several developed countries is still not clear whether it will be the cure or not. There have been tests and people have reacted differently to the vaccine. There have been many a success stories and many a countries have placed their orders with the Chinese and the Russian vaccines hoping and believing that, that is ‘the cure’.
Last but not the least the final warning is still ringing the bell and that is from Bill Gates who has said that this is just the beginning and next wave of virus will be more lethal.
