A recent study from the University of Oxford shows that a specific gene was found in South Asians that doubles the risk of respiratory failure from Covid-19. This higher-risk version of the gene most likely prevents the cells lining airways and the lungs from responding to the virus properly.
This virus has already taken the world by storm. While thousands of people are still dying every single day, the world is far from the end of the pandemic. The only solution to defang the virus is to vaccinate as many people as possible. The good news is that the biggest vaccination campaign in the history of mankind is underway. While about 8 billion doses have already been administered so far across the world, this progress is under threat because of anti-vaccination supporters.
Vaccinations are without a doubt one of the greatest achievements of modern science. Usually, it takes years of research to develop a vaccine. The fastest any vaccine had previously been developed, from viral sampling to approval, was four years, and it was for mumps in the 1960s.
And yet, the vaccine made by Pfizer with German biotech firm BioNTech, got approval for emergency use within a year. Huge amounts of funding and previous research on related viruses made what appeared to be impossible, possible.
The rapidity by which vaccines were developed made some uninformed people question their effectiveness. Without researching, those people subscribed to the idea that these vaccines will not be safe for them.
And it is disappointing to see that those ignorant people on the internet are promoting and supporting the anti-vaccination movement. On social media sites like Twitter and Facebook, they are spreading misinformation about vaccine safety and causing a worrying reduction in vaccination rates worldwide.
As a result, some countries are getting more infection and death counts -- pointing to a potential third wave.
The good news is that Facebook and Twitter authorities decided to ban any post related to the anti-vaccination movement, and some people who were initially hesitant are changing their minds.
But even this delay is considered a threat to health because viral infections spread very quickly. The coronavirus is always mutating to survive, and as a result, new variants evolve. It is proven that the delta variant has caused more deaths and is more transmissible. Even people with two doses of Covid vaccine can get this virus. Therefore, people without vaccine shots are in great danger.
Countries with higher vaccination rates have already proven that vaccines are highly effective at preventing hospitalization and death. At the current pace of 19.6 million people getting their first shots each day, the goal of halting the pandemic remains elusive.
While governments may have set a certain goal to hit by the end of this year, the current pace of vaccination says otherwise. Vaccine cards should be mandatory in all sectors and fake rumours surrounding vaccination must be stamped out by all means.
Otherwise, a third wave will arrive at our doors sooner than expected.
Tasrif Zawaad is a freelance contributor.