It is really a pity to hear or watch people jumping up in defence of AstraZeneca, the multinational drug company. This company has recently admitted that the vaccine Covishield, produced and distributed by it globally may be the cause of the rare side effects TTS, causing blood clots with low platelets. The operative word here of course is "rare" which is merely a statistical representation of the probability taking all other factors into consideration.
Now, it is a known fact that all medicines have side effects. So it is not surprising that the vaccine also may be the cause of some "collateral damage" to use a cliched jargon. But the fact of the matter is that the medicines are bound ethically and legally to give a disclaimer about the side effects, in however small a print it may be. In this instance, that's not the case.
But wait, if one goes through the list of people who are frantically defending the multinational drug company, it will be illuminating to note that they are the same people who came out in defence of Baba Ramdev too, just a few days back. This gives out their game and one can understand very well, where they are coming from or what they are actually defending.
The defence of AstraZeneca and justification of its complicity in suppressing the side effects of the Covishield vaccine is being made with childish logic as exchanged in conversations of elder village ladies gathered together. Some of them are as below :
In India, we have 2.5 lakh deaths every year due to road accidents. We have not banned vehicles.
Another 2.5 lakh people die of Malaria.We have failed to stop the menace.
Only three thousand people developed complications because of Covishield injections.
Each medicine has some side effects. Therefore there is nothing to be alarmed about this.
It has become the habit of some media houses to create panic to increase readership.
Supporting or justifying Covishield for the related side-effects, however minimal is not the way to encourage scientific temper. Making it sound like a necessary evil can be a tool to deflect criticism. But what is being cleverly smokescreeed here is the point that the vaccine was actively promoted, distributed, and administered by the government. And, they are maintaining a deafening silence on the matter. Is there a Health Minister in the Union Cabinet? What exactly is his role here? And what about the person whose hallowed visage was pasted on the vaccination certificate itself?
For those who feel that 3000 is a small number, they should not have any problem making Astra Zeneca pay compensation of Rs 1 cr each to the families of the deceased. But why should the general public jump in defense of a drug company with childish logic like a simpleton, is beyond any rationale. The company has not donated the medicine free of cost. It is a business activity for them. If after two years, they admit that there was a flaw in the medicine which could have resulted in disease/death, let them compensate. Why should you or I defend them? Are we their goodwill ambassadors or paid employees? Let the IMA and the government come out with a white paper. What if the tragedy happened or may happen with one of our own family member?
Some morons who justify the side effects so casually also have a philosophical take on the matter. They want us to understand and believe that we can't fight these large drug multinationals. This justification may be accepted as it is somewhat correct to a certain degree on an individual level. But then if we are unable to fight something, that doesn't mean that we should behave like an agent pimping for the companies.
This company paid a large amount in the form of electoral bonds and probably also in the black hole of the PM Cares fund. So you know why the family of Chowkidars has suddenly formed a new found love for a multinational drug company. A few days ago they were supporting Baba Black sheep and ascribing dark machinations by the foreign drug companies against him.
Now, it is a known fact that all medicines have side effects. So it is not surprising that the vaccine also may be the cause of some "collateral damage" to use a cliched jargon. But the fact of the matter is that the medicines are bound ethically and legally to give a disclaimer about the side effects, in however small a print it may be. In this instance, that's not the case.
But wait, if one goes through the list of people who are frantically defending the multinational drug company, it will be illuminating to note that they are the same people who came out in defence of Baba Ramdev too, just a few days back. This gives out their game and one can understand very well, where they are coming from or what they are actually defending.
The defence of AstraZeneca and justification of its complicity in suppressing the side effects of the Covishield vaccine is being made with childish logic as exchanged in conversations of elder village ladies gathered together. Some of them are as below :
In India, we have 2.5 lakh deaths every year due to road accidents. We have not banned vehicles.
Another 2.5 lakh people die of Malaria.We have failed to stop the menace.
Only three thousand people developed complications because of Covishield injections.
Each medicine has some side effects. Therefore there is nothing to be alarmed about this.
It has become the habit of some media houses to create panic to increase readership.
Supporting or justifying Covishield for the related side-effects, however minimal is not the way to encourage scientific temper. Making it sound like a necessary evil can be a tool to deflect criticism. But what is being cleverly smokescreeed here is the point that the vaccine was actively promoted, distributed, and administered by the government. And, they are maintaining a deafening silence on the matter. Is there a Health Minister in the Union Cabinet? What exactly is his role here? And what about the person whose hallowed visage was pasted on the vaccination certificate itself?
For those who feel that 3000 is a small number, they should not have any problem making Astra Zeneca pay compensation of Rs 1 cr each to the families of the deceased. But why should the general public jump in defense of a drug company with childish logic like a simpleton, is beyond any rationale. The company has not donated the medicine free of cost. It is a business activity for them. If after two years, they admit that there was a flaw in the medicine which could have resulted in disease/death, let them compensate. Why should you or I defend them? Are we their goodwill ambassadors or paid employees? Let the IMA and the government come out with a white paper. What if the tragedy happened or may happen with one of our own family member?
Some morons who justify the side effects so casually also have a philosophical take on the matter. They want us to understand and believe that we can't fight these large drug multinationals. This justification may be accepted as it is somewhat correct to a certain degree on an individual level. But then if we are unable to fight something, that doesn't mean that we should behave like an agent pimping for the companies.
This company paid a large amount in the form of electoral bonds and probably also in the black hole of the PM Cares fund. So you know why the family of Chowkidars has suddenly formed a new found love for a multinational drug company. A few days ago they were supporting Baba Black sheep and ascribing dark machinations by the foreign drug companies against him.
*****************
The high growth rate of the population is often blamed as the main ( sometimes, only ) reason for the widespread poverty in India and the neighbouring South Asian countries. We have heard this lament since our birth. So it is a surprise that the Western world is grappling with the specter of population degrowth.It appears that the whole world is becoming more aware of the oncoming demographic challenges and the collateral changes it may face in the coming decades and certainly in this century. Every week, I read some news or reference to the impending collapse that European nations face and now the same thing is being ascribed to South Korea, Japan and, hold your breath, even China. The population of the whole world, however, continues to increase, unabated. So, what is the conundrum we see here? What are the implications of it?
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh (if taken as a separate entity) has become the geographical area with the fourth largest population in the world, behind India, China, and the USA. Do you see a massive imbalance here or a logical solution?
