Fool’s paradise

If we think we are going to have a 100 per cent effective vaccine that will be delivered to everyone over the course of a month and we can go back to our old way of life, we are living in a fool’s paradise. There is a pretty low benchmark (50-60 per cent) when it comes to the efficacy of a vaccine. Even if we come up with a highly efficacious one, its mass production and distribution will be a challenge. Rather, we should continue to rely on non-pharmacological interventions such as wearing masks, physical distancing and so on for quite some time.

Hillol Das, MBBS third year, Medical College, Calcutta

Too many questions

Even if a vaccine is launched within a month, it doesn’t mean the world will get rid of Covid-19 like magic. There are so many questions and uncertainties: how effective will the vaccines be, will it be safe for everyone, how long will it take to vaccinate all citizens and so on.

Kamalika Halder, Class XI, Convent of Jesus and Mary, Ranaghat, Nadia

No cold chain

Discovery of a vaccine doesn’t mean the end of the pandemic. All shots are temperature-sensitive medicines that need to be stored at extremely low temperatures to sustain their efficacy. Unfortunately, most hospitals, clinics or health centres are not equipped to maintain the required cold chain. This means that only a small section of people will receive effective vaccines.

Soumyadip Banerjee, First year, Gurudas College, Calcutta

Too little, too late

We have lost millions to the coronavirus. World economy is crashing and even if the vaccine comes now, it will not be easy to recover. A vaccine, in fact, may create more problems for everyone. There will be a mad scramble and the privileged people will get them first while the poor will languish.

Diya Sekhani, Class X, Ashok Hall Girls’ Higher Secondary School, Calcutta

Offers immunity

The discovery of a vaccine will not end the pandemic; there is every chance that the virus will mutate and resurface. But a vaccine can cut down transmission and offer immunity to a sizable section of the population, especially the elderly or those with other ailments.

Shourya Paul, Class V, Genius Public School, Tamluk, East Midnapore

Vaccination win

If an effective vaccine is administered to half the population, it can go a long way in controlling the pandemic. Smallpox and polio were, after all, tamed by vaccines. Vaccination has also brought down infant mortality.

Suchismita Panda, Class X, Holy Cross School, Bokaro, Jharkhand