VACCINES NATIONLIZATION, MYTH OR REALITY

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By K P PASWAN

This unfortunate planet is still under the grip of Wuhan virus, named by WHO as Corvid- 19. This virus transmits from one human to another so rapidly,the fear of human race extinction was widely circulated. But the frightened human race is on the threshold of colonizing the red planet Mars and establishing human settlement on the Moon. Pharmaceutical Cos accepted the challenge to fight the virus with limited fund.

 There is still no permanent cure and a vaccine is the only hope if human race is to survive the pandemic.  Reputed Pharma Cos succeeded in manufacturing vaccines, based on conventional technology and the technology based on latest mRNA, which may ultimately proved a game changer  for Covid19.

At present we have only three brands of Vaccines approved by FDA and one AstraZeneca by UK. Several vaccines for the Wuhan virus are on different trial stages, allaying the fear of some self appointed experts that development of covid vaccines may take at least five to ten years, little knowing that data analysis is being  achieved by  sophisticated computers with lightning speed. With so many vaccines at our disposal, one particular person who happens to be chief of WHO has raised the concern relating to Vaccine nationalization.

Needless to say that Tedros Adhanom is not a medical professions. He was a  Foreign Minister of Ethiopia, a poor country in the grip of a deadly civil war. As a Health Minister, he effectively shielded the outbreak of Cholera which resulted in heavy casualty. Tedros Adhanom is being accused of shielding China.He declared in the month of Nov/Dec2019 that the virus could not transmit from one human to other, thus assuring the world that there was  no danger to human kind. Later on it was revealed that he presented this theory at the behest of Chinese Dictator Xi Jinping.

WHO. Whether or not the WHO is granted greater independence from politician, the vast sums of money flowing into it demands  close scrutiny. Almost every drug undertaken for Solidarity trial was rated as ineffective and rejected. Adhanom  failed to pinpoint any effective remedy for infected persons. Surprisingly high performing Pharma companies that were granted extra  freedoms to fight the lethal virus including the right to borrow money, did well and introduced two effective vaccines for treating coronavirus. Adhanom hopes that with Joe Biden’s support, his recommendations  will be used  to help patients belonging to underdeveloped countries, choose vaccines. But  are the right things are being measured? Or are these findings show the figment of imagination?

NO BLACK MARKETING. Neither any Pharma Cos nor any Govt on this earth are involved in hoarding the vaccines and vaccines are not being sold in black market. Several vaccines are on the pipelines and positive results for proper distribution may be seen by the end of the current year. No Pharma Cos are selling vaccines at high price to poor countries. The WHO under Adhanom  concerned over new variants of Corona virus. The WHO’s Chief is silent about the type of  patients infected by new variant in South Africa, which is not a poor country, but being ruled by a corrupt Govt. Here is true facts, most of the infected persons are also suffering from HIV and vaccines are found to be slightly less efficient, but still effective enough to neutralize the virus. Vaccines based on mRNA technology is successfully applied in Brazil and US to fight the  new Delta variant,  and unnecessary alarm is being raised by the WHO. New vaccines like Novavax  which is yet to be approved is  effective against new variant of South Africa and US.

HELPLESS EU. It appears that EU find itself in precarious position, because its eagerness to vaccinate the people belonging to the countries of erstwhile USSR which are now members of EU`. The Corona virus is rampant in these countries and there is limited supply of approved vaccines. The Pharma Cos are bound by agreement to supply  agreed quantity of vaccines to countries which ordered in advance. With gradual rollout of vaccines like Novavax and J&J, situation is likely to improve. and Tedros Adhanom needs not worry as UK has already promised 2 billion doses to underdeveloped countries. Moreover only three approved vaccines, nobody can expect equitable distribution  of vaccines among the whole population of the world.

INDIAN VACCINES.  India’s role in helping the poor countries remains unnoticed. India has its own source of vaccines. AstraZeneca and Covaxin manufactured in India, is proving unmatched in efficacy. It may be noticed Germany where vaccines emerged first has decided not to  use  Astra Zeneca vaccines to person above 60 in age, but in India due to trade rivalry AstraZeneca has established an edge over Covaxin.India is also supplying vaccines either free of cost or with minimum prices to its neighboring countries and exporting vaccines to Brazil and a few other countries.

Production Capacities. This serious problems led to artificial shortage of vaccines seen in EU. Belgium has ordered an inquiry as how the AstraZeneca is exporting vaccines manufactured in Belgium to UK without knowing, that UK ordered the supply of vaccines when the EU was not even considering the approval of vaccines by Pfizer. With limited production capacity and with increased demand, surge upon surge of the pandemic is seen in certain countries.

PRICE AND  COMPETITION. At present Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are expensive and in each cases two doses are mandatory. J&J vaccines  is supposed to be less expensive and is based  on a single dose. By the end of  NOVEMBER of this year. Vcurac and vaccines from Sanofi--GSK are going to hit the market. We are going to witness fierce competition and price war. Rich and poor will have an option to choose vaccine as per his/her purchasing capacity and the so called vaccine nationalism will loss its appeal. Sovereign nations will have the power to put a cap on the price of a particular or all of the vaccines. In India's three doses Zydus Cadila, Covax and one mRNA vaccines are supposed to roll out by the end of this year. In this way situation is not bleak for poor nations

CHINESE VACCINES. If Tedros Adhanom is so serious about vaccines nationalism than it is high time for the WHO’s chief to look towards China for immediate help. It is not known whether the expensive Chinese vaccines are killing people or neutralizing the lethal virus. China is the only country, which in the period of pandemic, has earned huge profit to the tune of 2 billion dollars by exporting facial masks and other medical equipment to different countries in the  world. It appears that the Wuhan virus before outbreak warned the Mandarins “ Be careful we are coming” So China can supply free of cost its vaccines to poor countries. Another solution is that Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in consultation with Mr. Guetress the UN Chief should call an emergency meeting of all political heads of the world to pass. a  resolution ,requesting the Economic super power(China) to supply vaccines free of cost to underdeveloped countries. The resolution is to be ratified by the Security Council, but this is unlikely to be materialized as China enjoys Veto power and China will be more than happy to exercise this veto in the interest of China. 

NEW VARIANTS. These variants are being seen in South Africa,UK,Brazil and several other countries. Some of the Virologists were expecting such variants and some of the experts predict reduced efficacy of vaccines. But existing vaccines are fighting the lethal virus and unnecessary alarms are being raised.In the same manner, there is little scientific evidences of serious side effects of AstraZeneca vaccines,but several countries have restricted its use.

FINAL THOUGHT. Vaccine nationalism is a myth. With limited quantity of vaccines available, it is a question of survival of the rich and poor. Everybody wants to survive. The worsening situation in the EU,UK, US and in a few countries may be described as serious, because the Govt failed to impose guidelines effectively.Present production capacity of vaccines cannot cover the entire world. So necessary guidelines like wearing mask,  maintaining social  and frequent washing of hand are essential, till vaccines are produced on large scale.