Just as the world started to show the signs of recovery from the pandemic, a new Covid-19 variant B.1.1.529 aka ‘Omicron’ has been identified after its first case was reported in South Africa. World Health Organization is reporting that it is more infectious than the past variants due to having a large number of mutations. More than that, it is also unclear whether current vaccines can resist this variant. Being a citizen of an underdeveloped country, I am again in a state of concern because we have witnessed how fast these viruses affect the global village in all aspects.
The outbreak timing of this new variant is also alarming because many people from different countries are eagerly waiting to celebrate the upcoming Christmas, New Year celebrations. People have been fed up with the severe lockdown restrictions from last year and the recent anti-mask protests in Europe and America have created more obstacles to deal with the current variant. In Pakistan, we also witness the profusion of marriage ceremonies in November and December.
If I talk about the financial aspect, as the world doesn’t know much about ‘Omicron’ at this moment, the factor of uncertainty has been seen in the global stock markets, especially the prices of oil and travel industry faced a notable consequence which is not a good thing for the world and especially for the people of Pakistan suffering from recent inflation spikes.
Despite the doubts about the effectiveness of existing vaccines against the ‘Omicron’, the only solution to protect ourselves is for everybody to be vaccinated because imposing lockdowns in the global inflation situation will add fuel to the fire. The rise of new variants also highlights the responsibility for wealthy countries to help poor countries by providing them required vaccines. They have to understand that nobody is safe until everybody is safe.
According to the NCOC, Pakistan, with more than 220 million population, only 50 million people have completed their two shots and 30 million are those who have completed their first shot of vaccine; one can easily see a huge gap. I request the Government of Pakistan to speed up the process of vaccination and to take harsh measures against the unvaccinated people. To the vaccinated people who have received the two doses, it is mandatory for them to take the booster dose.
Written by Wajid Ali | Lahore
