World leaders must fight pandemic jointly; herd immunity only when 60% of world population is vaccinated: experts

KURUKSHETRA: "We have moved a bill in the US House of Representatives to extend 20 billion dollars aid to Covid-hit countries. Under the Nullifying Opportunities for Variants to Infect and Decimate (NOVID) Act, the Biden administration will provide 80 million extra doses of vaccines to developing and low-income countries. US plans to vaccinate 60 per cent of world population to create the desired herd immunity.” Indian-American Congressman, Raja Krishnamoorthi said this while speaking in an international webinar.
The webinar on 'Strategies for Dealing with Pandemic for Equitable Access to Vaccines', was organised jointly by Gautam Buddha University, Howard University, Association of Indian Universities, Haryana Higher Education Council, Kurukshetra University and Swadeshi Swawlamban Trust on Friday.
Ron Somers, former chairman, US-India Business Council, said: “India and the US have partnered in producing vaccines for HIV, Hepatitis B and C and the first phase of Covid in the form of Remdesivir by using compulsory licencing. Contrary to some misbeliefs, c ompulsory licencing will provide access to vaccines, will not undermine IPR and enable further innovation. India has seven vaccine-manufacturers who can mass-produce vaccines once technology is transferred to them.”
Prof Pradeep Kapur, former ambassador and Amazon bestselling author said, “No government in the world, however powerful, can go alone by itself to deal with the Corona Pandemic. Leaders of the world who can communicate with civil society will be better able to manage the corona crisis.”
Prof Marilyn Sepocle, chairperson of Women Ambassadors Foundation, observed that like Merrie Curie and Charles R. Drew, who respectively gave X-Ray and Plasma therapy to the world as gifts, the Vaccine making pharma companies should use their innovation as a gift to the world.
Dr Pradeep Reddy, MD and a Pediatrics Specialist in Marion, Illinois and member of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin said that regulatory hurdles in supply of International aid for Covid medicines and equipment must be addressed urgently.
Dr Pankaj Mittal, secretary general, Association of Indian Universities said that vaccine is the only hope to save humanity from this Pandemic. All of us should unite to make an opinion in the world community about free access to vaccines to all.
Dr Johnrose Austin Jayalal, national president of the Indian Medical Association said that countries with 13 per cent of world population have ordered 50 per cent vaccines. At this rate 9 per cent of the population of lower income countries will be without vaccination till the end of 2021 or longer. However, India has walked the talk and Bharat Biotech has given vaccine manufacturing licence to three companies and is ready to give voluntary licence to any manufacturer in the world.
R Sundram, all-India convenor of Swadeshi Jagram Manch said that this pandemic should unite the world in its fight against an invisible enemy. Swadeshi Jagran Manch is playing a major role in bringing world leaders to a consensus for patent-free vaccines.
Satish Kumar, all-India co-organiser of Swadeshi Jagran Manch and a leading economic thinker and social worker, observed that 3 lakh people have already signed the petition moved by our trust for making corona vaccine free from patent regime. 1,500 vice-chancellors, intellectuals, scientists, and economists have also signed another similar petition.
Prof Narendra Rustagi, director CGBS, Howard University, highlighted the fact that we need to lift patent conditions for a limited period so that humanity can be saved. Reasonable profits can be shared with innovators to meet the cost of innovation.
Saji Narayanan, former All India President of Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh observed that new terms, like vaccine racism and vaccine apartheid are in currency these days, which is indeed a cause of concern. We must decide what is more important, profit or humans. Greed based capitalism should give way to humanitarianism.
Prof Bhagwati Prasad, VC Gautam Buddha University, stressed that global humanity must unite to save humans from Covid. World cannot wait for the WTO to take a decision on relaxing laws for producing vaccines.
Dr Yogender Malik, all-India general secretary, National Medicos Organization, said that there are seven vaccine manufacturers in India with the capability to make Covid vaccine. India has walked the talk. Bharat Biotech has given voluntary licence to Indian manufacturer and further willing to give licence to any manufacturer in the world.
Prof Som Nath Sachdeva, vice-chancellor, Kurukshetra University, coordinated with the foreign and Indian speakers in the smooth organization of the webinar. He said that this seminar, with a major support of Kurukshetra University, has been successful in building a world-wide opinion about Patent free vaccines and medicines to a 70 % world population to fight the pandemic.
Prof B K Kuthiala, chairman, Haryana Higher Education Council, observed in his vote of thanks that through such webinars a discourse of consensus is emerging through the efforts of intellectuals, social organizations, policy makers, education administrators, scientists to provide free access to vaccines, medicines and medical equipment in this unprecedented situation of pandemic.