This is not a simple movement of a cargo laden truck – it infact is a huge step forward for the humanity !!
It was in Mar 2020, that we heard more on this ‘Corona’ and by 24.3.2020 full lockdown was in place in India. Life has changed since for the humanity – the pandemic has underlined the extent to which digital interaction is no substitute for the real thing. Statistically it continues to be very threatening – 6,40,54,194 people affected and 14,84,164 deaths globally. India reported over 36,600 new cases in 24 hours, taking the total tally to 94.9 lakh in the world’s second-worst infected country, according to the Health Ministry’s update as of 8 a.m on Dec. 2. That includes over 89 lakh recoveries and more than 1.38 lakh deaths.
Looking back, in Dec 2019 - first cases of 'pneumonia of unknown cause' were reported to the World Health Organization by Chinese officials. On Jan 9, 2020, Chinese President Xin Ping discussed corona outbreak with politburo. On 14th Jan WHO claimed that there existed no evidence of it being transmitted human to human ! ~ while China perhaps tried to downplay, WHO went all out to certify that China had nothing to do with Corona and ensured that it was named Covid-19 with no reference to China whatsoever !
A new study that found traces of coronavirus in US blood samples from December last year is adding to the growing evidence that the virus was circulating for months before China announced its existence, casting more shadows over the truth about the pandemic and fueling suspicions of a cover-up by Beijing. Claims the global outbreak began in a livestock market in Wuhan last winter have crumbled in the face of scientific evidence proving the virus was all over the Western world weeks and even months before China declared the first cases to the World Health Organization on Dec 31. Research published on Monday revealed that 39 blood samples taken between December 13 and 16 last year in California, Oregon and Washington state had tested positive for Covid antibodies, meaning the people who gave them had been infected weeks earlier.
It adds to a growing body of proof that the virus had spread thousands of miles outside of China long before its existence was acknowledged. Scientists in Italy say they now have proof the virus was there in September 2019, traces of it were found in Brazil in November, a French hospital patient had it in his lungs in December, and the virus was present in sewage in Spain in January.
But without debating on when and how it originated, it is a fact of life, that it affected the entire globe, threatening the humanity and people for long lived under isolation and continue to live under fear.. .. perhaps all that is set to end !!!! Thousands of doses of the vaccine have been shipped from Pfizer's factories in Belgium this morning within hours of it being given the green light by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), making Britain the first country in the world to have a clinically authorised Covid-19 jab. UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock claimed an end to the pandemic was now 'in sight', while Boris Johnson declared it would 'allow us to reclaim our lives and get the economy moving again'. Some 800,000 doses of the Pfizer's vaccine — which trials have shown is 95 per cent effective — will be made available 'next week'. The UK has ordered 40million doses of Pfizer's vaccine in total, with 10 million due by the end of 2020 and the rest next year.
Patients need two doses, meaning Number 10 has only secured enough doses for around a third of Britain. However, it is likely other vaccines, including one from Oxford University that the UK has bought 100million doses of, will be approved in the coming weeks and months. Regulators today said there was evidence of 'partial immunity' just seven days after the first dose, offering a glimmer of hope that the roll-out beginning next week may have an effect before Christmas. But they insisted the best immunity comes seven days after the second dose, which is given three weeks after the first. It remains a mystery as to how long immunity against Covid lasts for, with top scientists warning that people may need to be vaccinated against the disease every winter, like the flu.
Nightingale Hospitals and sports stadiums have been prepared as sites for mass vaccination clinics, while GPs and pharmacists will also be involved in the mammoth Army-backed operation to deliver the jab. Mr Hancock also told Sky News that '50 hospitals across the country are already set up and waiting to receive the vaccine as soon as it's approved'. New regulations allowing more healthcare workers — and NHS volunteers — to administer flu and potential Covid-19 vaccines have also been introduced by the Government. They will be supervised by a healthcare professional. NHS England last night published its full contract specification for GP practices delivering Covid jabs.This stated that they must be able to operate from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week including bank holidays when required for reasons such as needing to use up supplies of a vaccine without wasting any. Vaccination sites are expected to be able to deliver at least around 1,000 jabs per week. The contract to vaccinate begins next Tuesday and GPs will be paid £25.16 for every two jabs they administer.
Volunteers without medical training can put themselves forward through the GoodSAM app to give injections working with St John Ambulance. The role description states: 'Volunteer vaccinators will be trained to deliver a vaccination to a patient. They will also be ready to act if a patient has an adverse reaction.' People are also being sought to act as vaccination care volunteers. They will help patients get to the right place for their jab and be on hand to provide first aid if anyone becomes unwell.
The jab is known as a messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine. Conventional vaccines are produced using weakened forms of the virus, but mRNAs use only the virus's genetic code. An mRNA vaccine is injected into the body where it enters cells and tells them to create antigens. These antigens are recognised by the immune system and prepare it to fight coronavirus. No actual virus is needed to create an mRNA vaccine. This means the rate at which it can be produced is dramatically accelerated. As a result, mRNA vaccines have been hailed as potentially offering a rapid solution to new outbreaks of infectious diseases.
Pfizer's Covid vaccine has to be stored at minus 70C — about four times colder than a household freezer — in special suitcase-like storage boxes. Special GPS trackers will mean that the temperature of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine can be remotely monitored to ensure it stays at the correct heat to keep it effective. Pfizer has designed a suitcase-sized container that will keep the doses at minus 70C for up to 10 days using dry ice. Each of the containers, dubbed 'shippers', holds around 1,000 doses and will be fitted with thermal sensors to enable the pharmaceutical giant to track the location and temperature of the frozen vaccine vials. The thermal shipping systems can be recharged with dry ice if needed, Pfizer said. Vaccines will be shipped by air and road, but not boat due to the time constraints.
Lorries loaded with the first batches of Pfizer/BioNTech's coronavirus vaccine and moving out of Pfizer manufacturing facility is indeed a great sight of hope for the humanity. They are already on their way to Britain after the breakthrough jab sealed approval from the UK's medical regulator — amid confusion about who will be first to be inoculated. Thousands of doses of the vaccine were shipped from Pfizer's factories in Belgium within hours of it being given the green light by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), making Britain the first country in the world to have a clinically authorised Covid-19 jab. The doses could reach Britain as soon as 3rd Dec 2020, the companies said.
One gear shift and acceleration for a truck but a giant movement forward for the humanity – let us hope that Vaccines are effective, become available to common man and Covid19 becomes a thing of the past.
With regards – S. Sampathkumar
2.12.2020.
