IMMUNITY TO PEOPLE AND A BOOSTER TO THE ECONOMY

COVID-19 has changed our lives introducing “new norms” at least for the next decade. During good old days, when we went to school and mingled with friends has now become a dream for our children. They are confined to their studies and to a computer or phone screen.

- Dr. Lohitha Samarawikrema

Physical activities have become bear minimum and the average health conditions are deteriorating and shortening the lifespan of the people. Thus the “Lockdown” mentality has created new forms of psychological dilemma indirectly effecting the nation’s growth.

Most of the global players and countries have identified these new trends and have adopted various concepts to face the new challenges.

New norms are being implemented in most of the countries and immunity passports (Green passes) are introduced for travellers who have been vaccinated already.

Countries like Singapore are facing the challenge already and have taken precautionary measures with a concept of Test, Trace, Vaccination (TTV).

Addressing the nation Prime minister of Singapore Lee stated that “In this new normal, the countries which are united, disciplined and (have) put in place sensible safeguards, will be able to reopen their economies, reconnect to the rest of the world (to) grow and prosper,”

Hence, vaccination would play a major role in adopting the new norms the world over.

Totalling the numbers, it is a fact that the world needs at least twice the number of vaccines in comparison its population to cover the entire world population.

Even with such a demand, the drawbacks for manufacturing vaccines are common to the countries with the presence of political instability, poor infrastructure, dubious regulatory frameworks thus prevent new investments in the industry.

Thus the “Lockdown” mentality has created new forms of psychological dilemma indirectly affecting the nation’s growth