Sufficient vaccines would help fight COVID-19 pandemic better: CM

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 19, 2021

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday expressed hope to get sufficient vaccines to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are hopeful that once the production is bumped up, once the production and supply chain from the Government of India and companies is streamlined and we get sufficient vaccines – that would help us fight this virus in a stronger manner,” Sangma told reporters after an all party meeting held to discuss on COVID-19 situation in the state.

Stating that the age group of 18 years and above will still be vulnerable (due to shortage of vaccines), the chief minister said the challenge for the government is to reduce the speed of the spread of the virus.

“We need to all come together, we need to work together – Not just at the political leadership but this has to go down to the society to every village and every household. The virus is behaving in an unpredictable manner so therefore, we need to be careful even at our household level,” he added.

The chief minister also assured that the government has taken note of the suggestions given by the members and will ensure improvement in all aspects of the health delivery mechanism.

Asked, he said more than one lakh doses is available in the state adding “the supply will last us for the next nine to ten days.” Sangma also informed that there has been change in the protocols where Government of India has increased the weeks from four-six weeks to now 12-16 weeks which is three-four months.

“Therefore, if the individuals have not received the second dose it is not due to non availability but it must be because the change in protocols and the time has not come yet. I urge all citizens to bear with us as we have to follow the protocols of the Government of India and based on those protocols, the vaccination will be given and as and when your vaccination is due you will get the vaccination,” he said.

Asked if the government is prepared for the third wave, the chief minister said one cannot really estimate or really conclude that the third wave is going to be this way or that way.

“It is very difficult to assess. We just don’t know how the virus will behave. When the second wave came and it started hitting the younger age group 35-45, it was kind of a surprise as we understand mutation of virus doesn’t happen so fast but the way this particular virus is mutated caught everybody by surprise. So, it will always be a challenge,” he said.

Stating that the government need to be prepared for all eventualities, Sangma said, “We need to see all different kind of scenarios, do our best to ensure we are able to stop the spread of the virus even now and if most probably the third wave does comes then we need to ensure that the spread need to be contained very fast and obviously infrastructure building is something that will be a continuous process.”