India on Thursday celebrated the administration one billion Covid-19 vaccine doses, but experts say the battle against the pandemic in the world’s second most populous country is only half won.
The South Asian nation of 1.3 billion people is recovering from a devastating second wave of the coronavirus this year that killed about 250,000 people and infected tens of millions.
About 75 per cent of the approximately 950 million adults eligible for vaccination have received at least one dose of the vaccine and one third both doses since the inoculation drive was launched on January 16.
“India scripts history,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on Twitter before addressing the nation to mark the billion vaccinations milestone.
“Congrats India on crossing 100 crore vaccinations. Gratitude to our doctors, nurses and all those who worked to achieve this feat,” he said.
Mr Modi also visited a Delhi hospital to show support for health workers who have been at the forefront of the fight against the pandemic.
The health ministry released a song dedicated to the vaccination drive, and authorities planned to light up historic monuments and hoist a handmade national flag at the Red Fort in the capital.
India wants to inoculate the entire adult population by the end of the year despite initial hiccups in the campaign because of widespread vaccine shortages that forced the world’s largest vaccine-producing nation to ban all exports.
Despite administering between five million and eight million vaccinations a day, experts say the slow uptake among people due for their second dose is worrying.
India began its inoculation drive with two vaccines – the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, produced by Serum Institute of India under the name Covishield, and the homegrown Covaxin developed by Bharat Biotech. Four other vaccine candidates have received emergency approval since, but almost 90 per cent of the doses administered are Covishield.
It also plans to start vaccinating children between 12 and 17 years of age with ZyCoV-D, another homegrown vaccine that was approved by the country’s drug regulator in August.
Mr Modi’s government faced criticism for its vaccine procurement policy that divided quotas between states and the federal government, leading to widespread shortages and derailing the vaccination campaign for weeks. The government scrapped the policy after scathing comments from the Supreme Court and began working to secure hundreds of millions of doses.
In recent months, India has maintained a stock of 100 million doses while lifting its export ban.
About 18,000 new daily infections were confirmed on Thursday, down from 415,000 in May. Daily deaths have fallen to an average of 200 from 4,000 at the peak of the second wave.
Experts say that while one billion vaccinations is cause for celebration, there are many challenges that the country needs to focus on.
This is a commendable feat by any yardstick. But the battle is half won
Dr Chandrakant Lahariya,
vaccinologist
“This is a commendable feat by any yardstick,” said Dr Chandrakant Lahariya, a physician and vaccinologist in New Delhi, who praised the “frontline workers who have made this possible”.
“But the battle is half won. One hundred crore doses essentially make around 55 per cent of the targeted 1.88 billion shots that need to be administered to the adult population,” he told The National.
“A quarter of India’s adult population still needs to receive the first shot. Vaccine hesitancy, access and the challenge of delivering [the] first shot – and second shot to the ones who have received first shot – are other aspects and need to be focused on.”
Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Energy Research Centre
Founded 50 years ago as a nuclear research institute, scientists at the centre believed nuclear would be the “solution for everything”.
Although they still do, they discovered in 1955 that the Netherlands had a lot of natural gas. “We still had the idea that, by 2000, it would all be nuclear,” said Harm Jeeninga, director of business and programme development at the centre.
"In the 1990s, we found out about global warming so we focused on energy savings and tackling the greenhouse gas effect.”
The energy centre’s research focuses on biomass, energy efficiency, the environment, wind and solar, as well as energy engineering and socio-economic research.
Anxiety and work stress major factors
Anxiety, work stress and social isolation are all factors in the recogised rise in mental health problems.
A study UAE Ministry of Health researchers published in the summer also cited struggles with weight and illnesses as major contributors.
Its authors analysed a dozen separate UAE studies between 2007 and 2017. Prevalence was often higher in university students, women and in people on low incomes.
One showed 28 per cent of female students at a Dubai university reported symptoms linked to depression. Another in Al Ain found 22.2 per cent of students had depressive symptoms - five times the global average.
It said the country has made strides to address mental health problems but said: “Our review highlights the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression, which may long have been overlooked."
Prof Samir Al Adawi, of the department of behavioural medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, who was not involved in the study but is a recognised expert in the Gulf, said how mental health is discussed varies significantly between cultures and nationalities.
“The problem we have in the Gulf is the cross-cultural differences and how people articulate emotional distress," said Prof Al Adawi.
“Someone will say that I have physical complaints rather than emotional complaints. This is the major problem with any discussion around depression."
Daniel Bardsley
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Last 10 NBA champions
2017: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-1
2016: Cleveland bt Golden State 4-3
2015: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-2
2014: San Antonio bt Miami 4-1
2013: Miami bt San Antonio 4-3
2012: Miami bt Oklahoma City 4-1
2011: Dallas bt Miami 4-2
2010: Los Angeles Lakers bt Boston 4-3
2009: Los Angeles Lakers bt Orlando 4-1
2008: Boston bt Los Angeles Lakers 4-2
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