Prof GT Thong
Kohima
The Government of Nagaland (The Morung Express [26th September 2021, Page 1] - School Reopening), has allowed the reopening of schools for students of classes 5 to 10 from 1st October 2021 amid drop in COVID-19 cases, following the fresh SOPs issued. Similar SOPs were earlier issued to other Government employees. Many other organizations/institutes of the state blindly copy/paste portions of these notifications for their own use.
According to the new SOPs, all teachers and staff should be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or should have taken the first dose at least 15 days prior to reopening. Those not fulfilling the above criteria have to produce negative COVID-19 test reports once every fifteen days.
In this context, some worrying questions need logical answers. Why should those vaccinated (even taken both doses) not produce a negative COVID-19 test report as well? Does it mean that they will not acquire the virus nor transmit it? The WHO and various national agencies have cautioned against breakthrough cases amongst those fully vaccinated. That is the reason why even those who have received both doses are still required to mask up, maintain distance, and practice hand hygiene. Naturally then, these breakthrough cases are as infectious as unvaccinated persons are and therefore, can transmit the virus to everyone around them.
The advantage often stated, is that those fully vaccinated are protected largely, and even if infected, may not require hospitalization; even if hospitalized, their chances of recovery are very high. Those having taken a single dose are at slightly higher risk. We are also informed that those who have not taken even a single dose are at great risk of hospitalization; even the percentage of deaths is reportedly very high for this category.
Now the troubling matter is that a person, who has not taken a single dose of the vaccine, brings a negative report and comes into contact w ith an infected, fully vaccinated person who transmits the virus to him/her. The danger of serious hospitalization and even death to the unvaccinated person is from the fully vaccinated person who is exempted from a COVID-19 test, but maybe infected, though being asymptomatic. How fair is the system? It reeks of a class system arising out of this unfortunate pandemic - an upper class of those who rushed for and got the vaccines and a lower class comprising those who are yet been vaccinated due to various apprehensions. One sometimes wonders if qualified professionals are involved in policy matters related to the pandemic or their opinions taken, which is doubtful considering the present grim scenario.
While the COVID-19 vaccination is considered the best protective tool against the Coronavirus, it does not provide 100% safety. That is the reason why fully vaccinated people can still get and transmit the virus. Therefore, the vaccination should not be taken as an immunity passport.
Another matter that defies logic is the order to produce negative reports once every 15 days. Let us assume a person tested negative on a particular day. How do we know that the person will not get the virus from some source and transmit it to others during this 15-day window?
Please, the concerned authority(s), review the system. If testing is necessary, everyone, irrespective of being vaccinated or not, should be tested periodically. In that case, the government should gear up and get massive supplies of reliable testing kits ready for its employees and the public.
