25 November,2021 08:46 AM IST | Mumbai | Vinod Kumar Menon
A luggage cart operator spotted with his mask on the chin at LTT. File pic
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I am afraid that countries like India won't be sufficiently prepared for the next Covid-19 wave expected around March-April 2022, because the resistance from the first doses of vaccine or after the disease would have waned and many wouldn't be fully vaccinated," Dr Lieve Fransen, a well-recognised policymaker at senior management level in the European Union told mid-day.
Dr Lieve narrates the reason behind the fourth and the fifth Covid-19 waves across Europe, and how a Mumbai-based health expert advised her on treating herself at home when she tested positive for the novel Coronavirus. She was part of âmid-day for Mumbai Roundtables' series in July 2021, held to discuss the anticipated third wave, recently.
Dr Lieve Fransen, policy maker at the European Union
Parts of Europe are currently witnessing a rise in Covid-19 cases for the fourth or the fifth time, and campaigns are being started for the booster dose of the vaccines. At the same time, several European Union (EU) nations are facing mass protests and outbreaks of violence against the Covid-19 restrictions and the use of passes or lockdowns.
"In Brussels, the capital city of Belgium, where the vaccination level is high (75 per cent of eligible population), the protests began after the government reintroduced obligatory teleworking at least four days a week, permitted discos visits only with a negative test report and made use of a Covid-19 pass mandatory for bars and restaurants," said Dr Lieve.
Clean-up marshals fine the mask-less. Dr Lieve said people might have to wear masks, and the countries might need to maintain vaccination efforts for the next three to five years. File pic/Pradeep Dhivar
"The current Covid-19 wave seemed to come unexpected for many, but it should have been on the mind of the decision-makers, because the people started mingling again, did not wear masks most of the time, and anti-vaxxers kept spreading the disease. Moreover, some people, like me, had been vaccinated nine months ago and our immunity was clearly lower than optimal. There are deficiencies on all fronts and political decisions have been taken too slowly, although vaccines are widely available, but vaccination centres have been dismantled. The vaccination passes became less useful as more and more breakthrough infections came among the vaccinated.
"I had been working and lobbying hard to fight the unjust vaccine apartheid leaving many people in lower- and middle-income countries struggling to get their at-risk populations and health professionals vaccinated. Informed by my experience as a major campaigner and policy maker during the AIDS epidemic 25 years ago, I could not remain silent and kept highlighting the disgraceful inequality of vaccine apartheid. The companies and the richer countries controlled the supply of the vaccines and only left the leftovers to the world's poor," she said.
"One day I started coughing, sneezing and had a sudden fever and felt very tired. After a test, I found out that I had Covid-19. I am part of a risk population because of my age and repeated pneumonias in the past. I quickly informed everyone I was in contact with, so that they can get tested, and I quarantined in the meantime, which was not too difficult because I live alone and have no family around. I contacted my friend and great expert Dr Subash Hira for medical advice. I took paracetamol and antibiotics, monitored my oxygen saturation, temperature and heart rate, and found that the infection increased my heart rate and temperature, but luckily, my oxygen saturation remained normal. Although I do a yoga session every morning with the guidance of my colleague and friend, Dr Vinod Karicheri, he advised me to rest and only do pranayama and bhramari pranayama, which helped a lot.
Dr Subhash Hira, professor of Global Health at the University of Washington, had helped Dr Lieve recover from COVID at home
"The help of these two Indian doctors along with the knowledge that I could call an ambulance whenever my oxygen saturation dropped under 92 per cent made me feel lucky and somewhat safer of course. But I must acknowledge that I had some anxiety. I had prepared a bag in case I needed to go to the hospital and also my last will, in case. I ended up lucky, somewhat protected by the vaccine I had received some nine months ago and of course I am in general good health, have no other pathologies, practice yoga daily and take long walks two to three times a day. I enjoyed the two wonderful friends cooking and delivering vegetable soups, fruits, and avocados in front of my house," said Dr Lieve.
"My antigen test came back negative after three days, but I stayed in isolation for 10 days as required. After five days, I started to mobilise slowly but got tired quickly. Now, two weeks later, though I still get tired easily, I am going for 10-km walks again to rebuild my strength and resilience. I find myself lucky to have good friends and great doctors helping me with telemedicine.
"However, I am more angry about the fact that the vaccine and telemedicine is not yet available for everybody else in the lower- and middle-income countries. I am even angrier at the anti-vaxxers demonstrating against all the precautionary measures by using their personal freedom as an excuse. Personal freedom to infect others is criminal. It is even worse if health professionals refuse to get vaccinated and still want to practice while putting their own patients at risk. The western world has lost all sense of responsibility for the health and wellbeing of the populations and many have instead developed a totally selfish way of thinking and acting," she said.
Dr Lieve cautioned India against the anticipated third Covid-19 wave. "The consequences [of another wave] in India are even more severe because of the difficulty to access hospital services, to stay in isolation or to have the benefit of social security when losing their livelihoods. The unfair situation will become even starker soon because the antiviral medicines are becoming available in richer countries, but not for many others. Some people and countries will buy the supplies, while others won't have access to them.
"Political decisions in Europe were slow each time, but I hope they will be timelier in India. Telemedicine services, access to oxygen, ICU beds and antiviral treatments need to be built up quickly and vaccines , including boosters, need to be increased in the weeks and months to come," she said.
"Vaccines offer very good protection against death and intensive care, and the mask and physical distancing are much-needed complementary measures. We will likely have to wear masks and maintain the vaccination efforts for the next three to five years. Discipline among the public to follow measures will be necessary and respect for the health and wellbeing of others should become the norm," she concluded.
Dr Subhash Hira, professor of Global Health at the University of Washington-Seattle who has been invited as an expert to several WHO-Geneva's Covid review forums, said, "She (Dr Lieve) informed me of her recent ordeal seeking advice on her Covid-19 infection. I was privileged to be able to guide her through difficult times on a daily basis. She was unable to get antiviral medicines in Brussels, sad!"
