The New Virus Vaccine Nationalism

Wear a mask, don’t wear a mask if you have breathing problems; work

from home,but go back to work as early as possible; start to enjoy life 

once again, but with the restrictions imposed; but... ..do not go on

holiday to Spain if you can; come back from your holiday in Spain

and be quarantined for 14 days on your return, without pay; 

all these and many, many odd  restrictions have made life difficult,

if not impossible.

This is partly a function of a fast moving and an unprecedented situation

caused by the pandemic.Families are singing the new melody: “oh my

darling! oh my darling Quarantine?” To go or not to go is the question.

But more simply, it is where and when to go?

The public in Britain and in many other parts of the world, are slowly 

but stealthily,becoming risk averse. Psychologists are of the opinion

that in days and months to follow, the pandemic would have created

a new psychosis.

The Second Coming

There is much frustration over the new and sudden quarantine rules

imposed on holidaying. The question is whether the rules are fair, 

with very little notice given.Holidays must be pre planned, booked

in advance to suit the work schedule, family finances, among other

 considerations.

We are told that there was a sudden change of mind by authorities,

by “follow the science experts,” about the spike in Europe and

perhaps, a fear a second coming of the Coronavirus infection, 

could well spread in the UK.

What will a second coming look like?

Will the “second coming” of the COVID-19 virus look like

more “lockdowns,”more remote working, more “track, trace and

incubate”?Will we have to shut down Boroughs instead of Cities,

Streets instead of whole Towns,and even individual business offices. 

We are assured, it may never come to that.

We have experienced the first phase of action which was “Protection,”

second phase:“Job preservation,” the third phase, “to rebuild the

economy”.

Of course, the NHS has now more capacity, medics are now better

equipped to treat the virus, Britain is stockpiling upon PPE, new field 

hospitals and ICU’s are in operation, the economy and social activity 

having adapted to the new normal in the past 4 months to deal with

containing the virus spread.

Would it be not as devastating to our physical, psychological, social,

and economic health as the first wave, when we were thoroughly

unprepared?

Could it be going “over the top” to think of what we have had to go

through in the first “homecoming”?

Could we afford a second coming?

These are some of the considerations of governments and the

public.

£31.7 billion has been claimed for 9.5 million “furloughed” 

employees on Government paid leave of absence from work. 

This is alongside £7.6 billion for 2.7 million self-employed.

Meanwhile,more than a million businesses have claimed 

£33.7 billion in “Bounce Back”loans, and many have made 

workers redundant,but many more have “gone under,”....

not to Australia.

The furlough scheme prevented major rise in unemployment,

but it is hoped to be “wound down” from August 20,2020 and 

completely removed at the end of October 2020 with losses 

climbing and set to hit almost 10%of UK’s workforce  by the

end of the year.Further, the British economy has contracted by 

25%within four (4) months.Researchers say.the economy has

reverted to the position 18 years ago.

What is the new virus nationalism?

One of the by products of the Coronavirus pandemic is the need 

for vaccine development. It is eagerly awaited by all. But no one

really knows if will cure all our worries? Will this Vaccine have 

the potential to be clinically effective against relapse? Will the 

vaccine have to be administered annually?

There are so many questions which need answers? 

There appears to be a "new nationalism" on the horizon. Will the

new vaccine against immunisation be ethically distributed around 

the world for the betterment of mankind?

Are nations keeping this development within their own borders?

Will it be a new form of " colonialism"  of the 21 Century? 

The UK Government we are told, is considering restrictions not

only on distribution of this vaccine, but simultaneous targeting 

regions within countries, to enforce stringent quarantine for 

travel to areas, like Catalonia, Aragon, and Navarre, in Spain, 

until a vaccine is developed? 

Although in everybody’s knowledge, Sri Lanka is on the

excluded list for UK holiday makers, but Ministers we are told

are also looking at the spike in Luxembourg, Belgium,and 

now Croatia. Everything about the ethical use of the vaccine 

and the new restrictions on the free movement of people on

holiday is kept under wraps. Why the silence, perhaps, it is not

to disappoint a credulous public?

Besides, the fear is that the wealthy countries are able well in

advance to sign deals for vaccines that have yet to be approved 

and may not even work.

Just because Stage 3 Trials of the Vaccine have started, it does

not naturally follow that the product is safe, that what is

produced is immune free, more so free of other medical

complications. That is no doubt the reason why drugs and 

vaccines have to be given thorough testing over years, but

now we are all in a hurry to make money out of this pandemic?

The latest contract already signed by UK is with British 

Pharmaceutical company,Glaxo SmithKline (GSK) and its

partner Sanofi Pasteur in France for 60 million doses of the

COVID-19 vaccine that they are developing. UK has already

a deal for 100 million doses of the Oxford University/Astra

Zeneca vaccine and for 90 million doses of two other Company

platforms.

We are informed that the Government accepts the gamble, it 

could lose taxpayers money on some deals, if they do not work. 

Reports in medical journals have highlighted that Russia will be

able to produce a clinically viable vaccine by September 2020. 

The race for primacy is on!  But,the claim by Vaccine 

researchers in UK is that: “we will be

the world.”.Until a tried,tested and dusted vaccine vial

is manufactured for mankind's use no one can be sure?

The United States’ policy too is to prohibit US companies from 

supplying their  research vaccine elsewhere in the world until its 

own needs are met first.We note that there are promising results

recently from Moderna Inc, in Cambridge, Mass. USA, which has

begun large scale Phase  rials and is expecting a breakthrough by

Thanksgiving Day 2020. Moderna’s share price has increased 

over the few months from $50 to $79.69 today buoyed by US

Government support.

The European Union too is working as a bloc to buy vaccines 

that are not produced in the US, with preference for 400 million

doses of the AstraZeneca developed vaccine.

China is keeping quiet until it can deliver a vaccine that is proven

effective,without the hype. 

What can Sri Lanka and other countries now do?
Instead of awaiting for a vaccine for COVID-19, which will be rationed

on basis of Vaccine Nationalism, by the wealthy developed national

candidates, Sri Lanka and many small nations, like Vietnam, can take 

adequate precautions to prevent the spread of a second wave of 

COVID-19 by researching a “Track and Trace” Smart Phone App
by our Universities.

Track and Trace App uses Bluetooth technology to log all those who

have been in close contact with a positive case, and alert them to take 

a test or self-isolate for14 days.

This is one key part of the surveillance programme going forward.

Germany has “Corona Warn App” which has now been installed by 

around 16 million people but with 83 million Germans in total, experts

say more than half the population need to have an “App” before it is

truly effective.

Testing is the only viable way of doing a “Check-In” on Coronavirus, 

in the absence of a difficult to get vaccine. We have no doubt that this

possibility will be pursued by the Health Authorities and the

Government of Sri Lanka, without the fear of a “Second Coming”.

Containing the virus relies on good systems for detecting cases and 

for the public to play its support role by social distancing and engage

with the "test and trace" system.

Clearly any weakness leaves countries like Sri Lanka susceptible,as

the virus can be transmitted even if people are not displaying symptoms.

One thing in our favour, is that the "R" or reproduction rate is nowhere

near the level seen during the peak period of the pandemic.

Victor Cherubim