As the second wave of the #COVID19 pandemic roils India, the only option for the Union Government and State Governments is to rapidly ramp up the vaccination programme. Data released by Indian Council for Medical Research shows both Covishield and Covaxin have proved to be an effective shield against the Chinese origin SARS-CoV-2 virus and its Indian mutant variants. Ideally, the entire population, without any age cut-off, should be vaccinated at super speed.

In the second part of his conversation with Kanchan Gupta, Distinguished Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, Dr Anand Ranganathan, noted scientist and professor at the Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, explains what makes Covaxin and Covishied and effective barrier to the virus even as it mutates like all viruses do. He answers key questions about whether people will need a booster dose, are the vaccines mixable, and if a new vaccine will be needed if the virus mutates in a manner like the South African variant that has rendered Covishield ineffective. Along with stepped up vaccination, there has to be a concerted effort to counter malicious disinformation by no-vaxers and pharma rivals.