In these difficult times, the pandemic has created more panic among people at large, east or west, north or south, than ever before. It has treated everyone alike and no difference has been made to people from different regions. It has caused immeasurable damage to the economies of countries, the infection and death toll of humans globally going beyond 15 million and more than 600,000 respectively, as though we are in the midst of another world war. No crowded streets, no grid locks, not many in super markets, banks, none in malls, hotels and restaurants - maybe a small number in airports and hospitals. We do not know how long it is going to take before normalcy is restored.

There is however a silver lining amidst the dark clouds. The news since last evening gives a lot of hope to humanity. Scientists at Oxford University say results from the first set of early stage clinical trials of their COVID-19 vaccine shows it is safe and induces an immune reaction. The vaccine is claimed to prompt a protective immune response in at least a 1000 people. The vaccine appears to have produced a dual immune response in people in the age group of 18 to 55 and lasted nearly 2 months after immunization.  This vaccine triggers both arms of the immune system, which is killing the virus and increasing immunity.

Serum Institute Pune, the Indian vaccine manufacturer is also starting very soon manufacture of Covaxin in large volumes after getting regulatory approvals. They have an arrangement with the British pharma company Astra Zeneca to produce a billion doses of the Oxford University vaccine after getting the required approvals.

Chances of failure of the Oxford vaccine appear remote and if approvals and trials are completed successfully, many companies will manufacture it in India and India will be the largest producer of the COVID vaccine in the world.

The Serum Institute will start clinical trials shortly, after which manufacturing the vaccine in large volumes will start.  They want to make it available at the lowest possible price so that everyone can afford it. In addition to India, the vaccine will be made available to countries in Africa and others.

This, therefore, is great news and with the virus showing signs of declining in terms of number of infections and fatalities in many states, there is hope in the air instead of despair.