By Bhaskaran Raman* On 14 Oct 2024, the Supreme Court of India dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on the side-effects of the Covid vaccine. In 2021, the world saw the rollout of various Covid vaccine candidates. In India, Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin and Serum Institute of India’s Covishield were rolled out. Covishield was nothing but Oxford’s AstraZeneca relabelled in India. The importance of open-minded and scientific probe of Covid vaccine safety In 2020/2021, all Covid vaccines were authorized for emergency use, which meant that the necessary efficacy and safety follow-up was incomplete at that time. The originally approved trials – called randomised controlled trials (RCT) had a “vaccine” group and a “placebo” group for comparison. Such experimental comparison/control is the cornerstone of the scientific method – which even children learn in photosynthesis experiments in class-1. The vaccine trials were scheduled to conclude in late 2022/early 2023. For instance, Covaxin’s
By Fr Cedric Prakash SJ* About a month ago, on 15 October, the 2024 Global Hunger Index was released. India ranks 105 out of 127 countries; with a score of 27.3, India has a level of hunger that is serious. On that day, a World Bank report stated that “almost 129 million Indians are living in extreme poverty in 2024, on less than $2.15 (about Rs 181) a day.” These are hard facts by independent agencies, which the Government of India is unable to find fault with. These statistics should not surprise anyone: whilst India boasts of producing some of the richest persons in the world, the fact is that millions of Indians still do not have access to roti- kapda- makhan (food-clothing-shelter), clean drinking water and the other basic amenities of life. Theirs is a journey of survival, struggling to eke out a living!