Second wave receding..., third wave approaching.....

Before the second wave of the dreaded pandemic (corona virus) is fully gone, there is talk of the third wave appearing already. The scientists and bureaucrats are scaring us every day, with their updates. How many waves this will have?! Can anyone (Scientists, Bureaucrats, Doctors, Researchers, Crystal ball gazers, Fortune tellers) give us a definite answer? No answer / prediction will be precise, I am sure. Once something takes place, everyone will reel off the reasons for that occurrence.

How does the virus spread from one human to another? It is due to the person's weak immune system and non-adherence of the safety norms like, wearing of mask (properly), keeping a safe distance, keeping the hands and legs clean. We never bother to keep ourselves immune to various viruses that attack us. We do not follow any regime - be it doing regular work-outs, yoga practice, taking immune-boosting food regularly. Personal hygiene and increasing our level of immunity are both very important.

And the vaccination process has started sometime back, we should get vaccinated when our turn comes. It is not possible to have the vaccines ready for all the people at any given point of time, considering the bottlenecks in production, distribution, and dirty politics. Added to this the negative publicity created by the vested interests (about the efficacy of the vaccines and the side-effects)! Our people could be easily misguided by the influential politicians. It is for our own safety that we should get vaccinated when our chance comes. It is said that even the first jab makes us immune to the virus to the extent of 60% or so.

If we do our part, aided by the government, why bother about the third wave or the fourth wave? It is said that even if 60% of the population is vaccinated, 'herd immunity' could set in, which will slow down the spread of the disease. So, everything depends on us, the people, to cooperate with the government and get ourselves vaccinated in time and also follow the safety norms to prevent the occurrence of any further wave. It may take some time for the government to provide the required quantity of vials, considering the huge population. Till then, we should follow the safety norms assiduously, not to contract the virus and to transmit to others. We should help ourselves and others too. 

Imagine the plight of the poor people and small-time vendors, who are the most affected by the lock-downs. Only if the normalcy is restored, they can earn on their own and lead a life of self-respect. They need the financial and moral support of the affluent society. We should have some concern at least, for such marginal people and do our part correctly.

Let us pledge to follow the safety norms and get vaccinated as per our turn and help the nation come out of this dreaded disease at the earliest. We should also try to convince the gullible public who are hesitant to take the jab. It is the bounden duty of every individual, in the interest of the nation.