Move with caution

THE recent finding of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) indicates that mixed administration of vaccines has elicited better immunogenicity than two dosages of the same vaccine in isolation. In the scientific arena, fortuitous happenings have a special role; we can cite the examples of penicillin, the microwave and Teflon. In UP, 18 individuals inadvertently were immunised with both vaccines and were under constant watch of the ICMR, which found enhanced neutralising antibodies in them. But the WHO has issued a caveat against mixing of vaccines and that they should not be used in clinical practice as a guide. So the studies have to be followed and elaborated on a large sample size and for a larger duration and time to reach the final outcome.

Kumar Rajesh, Solan

Vaccine combination

A study conducted by the ICMR has found that mixing the doses of Covishield and Covaxin is safe and elicited a better immune response. Also, the immunogenicity against Alpha, Beta and Delta variants was superior and the neutralising antibody response of the participants was higher compared to those who received both doses of the same vaccine. This is the first report of heterologous immunisation with an adenovirus vector-based and an inactivated whole virion vaccine in humans demonstrating safety and significantly improved immunogenicity. This vaccine mixture will benefit a large number of the population in coming months to control the pandemic.

Bhagwan Thadani, Mumbai

Can do better

That the government and various organisations are showering copious accolades on achievers of Tokyo Olympics is heartening. It will motivate other athletes to win laurels by toiling. However, there should be no room for smugness as winning seven medals is not an exceptional accomplishment for a huge country like India where there is no dearth of talent. Why not emulate China and the US? There is a dire need for identifying the latent potential of our students while they are young and providing them with excellent infrastructure, training and financial support. Moreover, the selection process must be equitable. Only then can we boast of being one of the best in the world.

Vimal Sethi, Atlanta

Now for Paris Olympics

The Olympics wrapped up, with India winning seven medals and finishing 48th in the overall rankings. It might not seem a lot, but it has been India’s highest ranking in over four decades. This acts as a ray of hope for the players who came very close to winning a medal and those who are training for the Paris Olympics. With renewed confidence and support, the players will strive to work even harder. The audience now knows that given the right support, motivation and training, our players can excel and create history. The road to Paris 2024 looks even brighter.

Meenal, Chandigarh

Farming reforms

The creation of a digital data bank on farmers can be more useful to planners for formulation of policies for region-specific homogeneous groups of farmers. The data may not help in increasing their income. Farm-specific viable models for small and marginal farmers, who constitute 86% of the cultivators, should be developed by agricultural universities, IARI, ICAR and state agriculture departments. Oil seeds and pulses should find their due place to come out of water-guzzling mono-crop culture and help check soil degradation. The genuine demand of farmers of extending MSP to all 23 crops throughout the country needs to be met so that distress sale of farm produce is minimised. Quality farm equipment on a custom hiring basis should be ensured through PACS and farmer service centres. Cold chains and peak season storage should be made an integral part of the marketing infrastructure support system.

Daljit Singh Saahi, Zirakpur

Football hero

Refer to ‘Tearful Messi confirms he is leaving Barcelona’; an era beginning with the iconic moment in 2000, when Messi, as a 13-year-old boy, signed for Barcelona, ended with his tearful adieu to the club. An epoch marked by exquisite passes, dazzling dribbles, of killer shots that stunned and stumped goalkeepers as the ball careened past them into the net – is impossible for football fans to imagine coming from anyone other than Messi in his Barcelona’s inimitable burgundy and blue stripes. As the football world weeps with him, perhaps his unparalleled statistics come as a consolation with the titles he won and goals scored for his club that kept climbing up constantly.

RANGANATHAN SIVAKUMAR, Chennai

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