The key to end covid-19 crisis in India lies in ramping up vaccine production and extending the gap between two doses of Covishield seems like a “reasonable approach,” White House chief medical advisor Dr Anthony Fauci.
When you are in a very difficult situation, the way you are in India, you have to try and figure out ways to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as you can, so I believe that it is a reasonable approach to do,” Dr Fauci said.
On Thursday, Centre announced that the gap between the first and second doses of the Covishield COVID-19 vaccine has been increased to 12-16 weeks – from the existing 6-8 weeks. The decision was taken after the suggestion of a working committee.
Dramatically ramping up covishield drive is key to ending the crisis in India
“The fact that you delay it that long, it is very unlikely that it would have negative effect on efficacy of vaccine. I would not refer to it as a cover up when you don’t have enough vaccines,” Dr Fauci.
Dr Fauci, one of COVID’s most trusted names, suggests that India should step up role of the armed forces in combating COVID-19.
“You can use the military sometimes to get things done quickly that you otherwise in the private sector would not be able to, for example.
I know that there’s a shortage of hospital beds right now that people who need to be in a hospital or not getting into a hospital because of the shortage of the beds. You can get the military to put up field hospitals. The same way they would during time of war, that could serve as a substitute for the classic hospital.” Dr Fauci .
India continues to grapple with the worst surge of COVID-19 with record-breaking cases, hospitalizations and deaths. To arrest the prevailing surge, many states have decided to impose lockdown with only essential services allowed to remain working.